OMAHA, Neb. - The Mavericks (8-10, 7-1) look to grow their first-place lead in the Summit League this week as they open the second half of the conference schedule on the road at Oral Roberts and South Dakota, before wrapping up the week at home vs. St. Thomas on Pink Out Night.

Weekend Slate

• Tuesday, October 17, Omaha at Oral Roberts at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, October 19, Omaha at South Dakota at 6 p.m.
• Saturday, October 21, Omaha vs. St. Thomas at 5 p.m.

Quick Hits

• The Mavericks remain in first place in the Summit League after beating Denver and North Dakota at home last week to move one win ahead of second-place Kansas City. 
• Shayla McCormick officially topped 800 career kills last week after racking up another 24. She now has 806 kills, along with 824 digs in her career.
• After topping out at nine kills six times this year, Brynlee Arnold finally reached double-digits for the first time in her career on Saturday when she led the team with 13 kills vs. UND and simultaneously reaching 100 on the season.
• Emily Huss had a career day on Saturday as she became the first Maverick to record double-digit blocks in a single match this year with 11, including four block solos. 
• Erica Fava notched three more service aces over the weekend and is now tied for third in the conference with 23.
• McKenna Ruch and Amanda Hardt are in a dead heat for the team lead in kills, with the rookie holding a two-kill lead with 176. Only nine players in the conference have reached 200 kills so far, and both Ruch and Hardt will likely reach the milestone this week.

Scouting Oral Roberts
The Golden Eagles are looking to make up ground in the standings as they enter the week at 1-5 in the conference.

Golden Eagles To Watch
Junior outside hitter Trinity Freeman remains ORU's top offensive threat with a team-high 224 kills, along with 10 aces. At Omaha this season, she recorded six kills and two aces, as well as seven digs.

Junior libero Breanna Rivas continues to lead the Golden Eagles defense with 228 digs, while at the same time pacing them with 20 service aces, though she only picked up seven digs and no aces vs. the Mavericks this year.

Series History
Earlier this year, the Mavericks moved to 16-9 all-time vs. ORU and now have a nine-match winning streak against them.

Scouting South Dakota
The Coyotes sit just outside the top-three in the Summit at 4-3 following a win against St. Thomas and a loss to second-place Kansas City last week.

Coyotes To Watch
Junior outside hitter Kylen Sealock and senior middle blocker Madison Harms are USD's best all-around players, with Sealock leading the team in kills (227) and aces (21) and being top-five in digs (161) and blocks (37), while Harms paces them with 86 blocks and is second in kills with 212. Against Omaha earlier this year, Sealock led the Coyotes with 11 kills and Harms had three blocks.

Series History
The Mavericks snapped a four-game skid against USD earlier this year to move to 7-21 against them in the D1 era.

Scouting St. Thomas
The Tommies are coming off their first conference win of the season last week after they beat North Dakota State in five sets. Before facing Omaha this week they will face Kansas City and South Dakota. 

Tommies To Watch
Sophomore middle blocker Megan Wetter leads St. Thomas with 57 total blocks and tied for third in aces with 12. Her 135 kills are second on the team behind only freshman outside hitter Ellie Gustafson's 156.

In her first season with the Tommies, sophomore libero Ella Voegele leads the team with 274 digs and is second in aces at 13.

Series History
Omaha is still undefeated against the Tommies at 4-0 through their first two years of competing with each other.