OMAHA, Neb. - The Mavericks (6-10, 5-1) close out the first half of their conference schedule this week at home when they play Denver for the first time this season and followed by their second match vs. North Dakota.

Weekend Slate

• Wednesday, October 11, Omaha vs. Denver at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, October 14, Omaha vs. North Dakota at 12 p.m.

Quick Hits

• Entering the week riding a five-match winning streak after wins against ORU and SDSU last week, the Mavericks look to keep it rolling this week as they close out the first half of their 16-match conference schedule.
• Erica Fava had arguably her finest week yet in Omaha after totaling 36 digs last week and becoming the first Maverick to record at least 20 digs in a game this season with 25 at SDSU. She also became the first Maverick this season to reach 20 service aces.
• Rachel Fairbanks continues to play well in her final season, picking up 16 kills last week along with her third double-double of the season with 10 kills and a season-high 18 digs at South Dakota State. At 91 kills on the season, she has good odds of topping 100 kills for the fourth time in her career.
• Receiving her most substantial playing time yet, rookie setter Olivia Tukuafu notched 49 assists, 11 digs, and a pair of aces last week, playing all seven sets.
• Shayla McCormick had a double-double in both matches, recording 12 kills and a season-high 19 digs vs. ORU, before picking up 11 kills and 16 digs at SDSU. She now has five double-doubles on the season.
• McKenna Ruch had two of her most efficient matches of the season last week, picking up 12 kills in each match and attack percentages of .571 and .409. She also blocked five more shots giving her 61 on the season, good for fifth in the conference.

Scouting Denver
The Pioneers surged to first place in the Summit League last week after going 2-0 against St. Thomas and Kansas City to improve to 6-8 overall and 5-1 in the conference.

Pioneers To Watch
Graduate student outside hitter Cassie Davis leads Denver's offense with 150 kills (3.13 K/S) on top of having 16 service aces. Defensively, she is also top five on the team in digs 76 and total blocks 26. 

Senior libero Gianna Bartalo paces the Pioneers defense with 156 digs, nearly twice as much as the next closest on the team. Her 17 service aces are second on the team, trailing only Cadi Boyer with 22.

Series History
The Pioneers are the only Summit League team the Mavericks have a losing record against at 7-19. That said, Omaha is on a four-match winning streak in the series.

Scouting North Dakota
The Fighting Hawks currently sit at sixth in the conference at 5-12 overall and 2-3 in the Summit after losing their only match last week 2-3 vs. South Dakota. Before facing Omaha on Saturday they will play Kansas City on Thursday.

Fighting Hawks To Watch
Sophomore outside hitter Paige Barber continues to head up UND's offense with 155 total kills. In North Dakota's first match against Omaha this season, she recorded nine kills and three blocks.

North Dakota's defensive leaders Lauren Perugini and Izzie McCormick remain almost tied in digs with 152 and 160, respectively. Against the Mavericks, the two combined for 27 digs, with Perugini also having seven kills and McCormick picking up six aces.

Marissa Stockman (11) and Elizabeth Norris (10) had the most kills vs. Omaha last time out.

Series History
After winning 3-2 a couple weeks ago on the road, the Mavericks are now 53-13 all-time vs. the Fighting Hawks and have 11 straight wins in the series.