Volleyball | 10/23/2012 4:57:00 PM

VOLLEYBALL - NO. 12 WESTERN WASHINGTON AT WESTERN OREGON
Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012 – 7:00 p.m. – Monmouth, Ore.

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

VOLLEYBALL - SIMON FRASER AT WESTERN OREGON
Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012 – 7:00 p.m. – Monmouth, Ore.

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

MONMOUTH, Ore. – After a four-game road swing, the Western Oregon volleyball team returns home for a pair of matches as the Wolves host No. 12 Western Washington on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 7:00 p.m. before a meeting with Simon Fraser on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 7:00 p.m.

“We played well on our recent road trip and now it is time to refocus and get ready for a pair of tough matches at home,” head coach Brad Saindon said. “We still have the chance to meet a lot of our team goals; but, we know it won't be easy. It starts with a very tough match on Thursday against a team playing as well as anybody in the country.”

The Wolves enter the important week with a mark of 14-5 overall and in fourth-place in the league standings with a 7-3 mark after defeating Alaska Fairbanks, 3-1, before sweeping Alaska Anchorage last week. WOU was led by Samantha Ward, who earned Red Lion GNAC Offensive Player of the Week honors after posting 34 kills while hitting .413 for the week.

Offensively, WOU remains one of the top teams in the league as the Wolves rank second in the league and No. 30 in the country with a 0.243 hitting percentage. Krissi Kemper has played a large role in the lofty ranking as she is third in the nation and leads the league with a .413 hitting percentage. Danielle Reese continues her solid play as she ranks fourth in the conference with 3.53 kills per set to lead all WOU players.

The Wolves continue to do well in defensive categories as WOU is currently No. 15 in the country with 2.42 blocks per set. Becky Blees leads the way as the junior middle blocker leads the GNAC and ranks No. 15 in the country at 2.42 blocks per set.

Nationally-ranked Western Washington enters the match with the Wolves with a record of 17-2 overall and leads the league with a 10-1 mark. Marlayna Geary paces the Vikings with 4.29 kills per set while Samantha Hutchinson has proven to be a force on the defensive side, averaging 6.17 kills per set.

After splitting a pair of contests last week, Simon Fraser sports a record of 4-14 overall and is in last place in the league race with a mark of 1-10. The Clan have won two-of-four matches as Jessica Young leads all SFU players with 2.80 kills per set.

Earlier in the year, WOU claimed a 3-1 victory over SFU; however, dropped a hard-fought, 3-0 decision at the hands of WWU.

Admission to the matches is $6 for adults and $4 for non-WOU students or seniors. WOU students are admitted for free with a valid identification card.

Following the week's action, WOU will return to the floor on Thursday, Nov. 1, when the Wolves travel to Billings, Mont., to face Montana State Billings at 7:00 p.m.