Volleyball | 10/10/2012 2:45:00 PM

VOLLEYBALL - WESTERN OREGON AT CENTRAL WASHINGTON
Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012 – 7:00 p.m. – Ellensburg, Wash.

LIVE VIDEO: WOU TV (Stretch Internet)
LIVE STATS: WOU TV (Stretch Internet)

VOLLEYBALL - WESTERN OREGON AT NORTHWEST NAZARENE
Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 – 6:00 p.m. – Nampa, Idaho

LIVE VIDEO: WOU TV (Stretch Internet)
LIVE STATS: WOU TV (Stretch Internet)

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon volleyball team returns to action this week as the Wolves travel to No. 22 Central Washington on Thursday, Oct. 11, at 7:00 p.m. before heading to Northwest Nazarene to take on the Crusaders on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 6:00 p.m.

After splitting last weekend, the Wolves enter the week with a mark of 11-4 overall and in fourth-place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with a 4-2 league mark. In last week's action, WOU fell in straight sets to Seattle Pacific before rebounding with a 3-1 victory over Montana State Billings.

Senior Danielle Reese continues to lead the WOU attack as she leads the team, ranks second in the conference and No. 28 in the nation at 4.32 points per set. So far this season, the outside hitter has posted 185 kills and ranks fourth in the league with 3.56 kills per set.

Krissi Kemper has also excelled for the Wolves as she leads the league and ranks third in the nation with a .430 hitting percentage. As a team, WOU is second in the league in hitting percentage at .236 while recording 12.19 kills per set.

Defensively, Becky Blees paces the Wolves with 1.34 blocks per set as WOU leads the league and ranks No.16 in the nation with 2.44 blocks per set. Blees ranks No. 14 in the nation in blocks while Hannah Deede is adding 1.00 blocks per set for the Wolves. The duo has helped WOU lead the league with a .146 opponent hitting percentage.

Winners of seven straight, Central Washington enters the week with a mark of 12-4 overall, 6-2 in league play, as the Wildcats are currently in second-place in the GNAC standings. The Wildcats rank third in the league with 12.89 kills per set as Marcy Hjellum leads all Wildcat attackers with 3.48 kills per set.

WOU leads the all-time series against Central Washington, 27-19, after capturing both contests during the 2011 season.

After falling to Central Washington in five sets last week, NNU opens play this week with a mark of 9-8 overall, 2-5 in league action. Becky Flores leads the way for the Crusaders with 194 kills while Michelle Terpstra has recorded 603 assists for NNU this season.

The Wolves swept the Crusaders in both meetings last year as WOU improved its all-time record against NNU to 47-20.

Following this week's matches, WOU will return to action on Thursday, Oct. 18, when the Wolves travel to Fairbanks, Alaska, to take on Alaska Fairbanks at 8:00 p.m.