Volleyball continues road trip for weekend
Tom Mavraganis
Issue date: 10/9/09 Section: Sports
The Western Illinois volleyball team (7-11, 3-4 Summit League) hits the road this weekend for back-to-back Summit League games.
The first game is set for tonight at 6 p.m. against the IPFW Mastodons (10-7, 4-3 Summit League). Saturday's game starts at 4 p.m. versus the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (12-3, 5-2 Summit League).
There are eight teams in the Summit League conference that are separated by four games, going into this weekend. The 'Necks are one game behind IPFW and two behind Oakland in conference standings.
According to head coach Kym McKay, her squad needs to maintain competitive toughness in all of her matches as the season winds down.
"Our primary team goal is to have competitive toughness every time in every challenge," McKay said. "Teams that have that competitive toughness the most are going to pull ahead. Nothing is going to be easy this weekend, there is not going to be one point scored that is not battled for."
The 'Necks' last game was a 3-0 road win over SIU-Edwardsville.
"The team does really well with travel and being positive," McKay said.
Offensively, sophomore Cait Egan leads Western with 195 kills and junior Ellen Miller has had 649 assists for the 'Necks, and freshman Bridget Murphy guides the defense with 198 digs.
IPFW
The Mastodons are coming off a 3-2 road victory over Oakland and currently stand fifth in the conference standings. The team is also on a three-game winning-streak with two being conference matches.
"(IPFW has a) very tough environment to play in," McKay said. "We're going to keep our eyes focused on Leatherneck volleyball."
Offensively, IPFW has senior Rebekah Roehma, a first-team all-conference selection the past two seasons, with 259 kills. Senior Shannon Reuter complements Roehma with 357 assists and senior Jamie Schwartz has recorded 280 digs this fall.
Oakland
The Golden Grizzlies are second in the conference standings and coming off a 3-1 non-conference win at Eastern Michigan.
Four days prior to their win at Eastern Michigan, the Golden Grizzlies suffered a 3-2 loss against IPFW. The loss snapped a three-game winning-streak for Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies' offensive leaders are senior Adrienne Leone with 247 kills and sophomore Ashley Nevelle, who has totaled 588 assists.
Junior Brittany Dunn has acquired 280 digs to lead the defense this year.
Oakland's two conference losses this season were at home but remain undefeated on the road with four road conference victories.
"Anything can happen this weekend," McKay said. "This is going to be an extra tough road trip. Every single point is going to be so important."
The 'Necks have two more road conference matches following their trips to Fort Wayne, Ind. and Rochester, Mich. They will visit UMKC on Thursday, Oct. 15 and Southern Utah Saturday, Oct. 17.
The first game is set for tonight at 6 p.m. against the IPFW Mastodons (10-7, 4-3 Summit League). Saturday's game starts at 4 p.m. versus the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (12-3, 5-2 Summit League).
There are eight teams in the Summit League conference that are separated by four games, going into this weekend. The 'Necks are one game behind IPFW and two behind Oakland in conference standings.
According to head coach Kym McKay, her squad needs to maintain competitive toughness in all of her matches as the season winds down.
"Our primary team goal is to have competitive toughness every time in every challenge," McKay said. "Teams that have that competitive toughness the most are going to pull ahead. Nothing is going to be easy this weekend, there is not going to be one point scored that is not battled for."
The 'Necks' last game was a 3-0 road win over SIU-Edwardsville.
"The team does really well with travel and being positive," McKay said.
Offensively, sophomore Cait Egan leads Western with 195 kills and junior Ellen Miller has had 649 assists for the 'Necks, and freshman Bridget Murphy guides the defense with 198 digs.
IPFW
The Mastodons are coming off a 3-2 road victory over Oakland and currently stand fifth in the conference standings. The team is also on a three-game winning-streak with two being conference matches.
"(IPFW has a) very tough environment to play in," McKay said. "We're going to keep our eyes focused on Leatherneck volleyball."
Offensively, IPFW has senior Rebekah Roehma, a first-team all-conference selection the past two seasons, with 259 kills. Senior Shannon Reuter complements Roehma with 357 assists and senior Jamie Schwartz has recorded 280 digs this fall.
Oakland
The Golden Grizzlies are second in the conference standings and coming off a 3-1 non-conference win at Eastern Michigan.
Four days prior to their win at Eastern Michigan, the Golden Grizzlies suffered a 3-2 loss against IPFW. The loss snapped a three-game winning-streak for Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies' offensive leaders are senior Adrienne Leone with 247 kills and sophomore Ashley Nevelle, who has totaled 588 assists.
Junior Brittany Dunn has acquired 280 digs to lead the defense this year.
Oakland's two conference losses this season were at home but remain undefeated on the road with four road conference victories.
"Anything can happen this weekend," McKay said. "This is going to be an extra tough road trip. Every single point is going to be so important."
The 'Necks have two more road conference matches following their trips to Fort Wayne, Ind. and Rochester, Mich. They will visit UMKC on Thursday, Oct. 15 and Southern Utah Saturday, Oct. 17.
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