Volleyball | 11/6/2012 3:33:00 PM

VOLLEYBALL - NORTHWEST NAZARENE AT WESTERN OREGON
Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012 – 7:00 p.m. – Monmouth, Ore.

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

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Winners of seven in a row, the Western Oregon volleyball returns to action on Thursday, Nov. 8, as the Wolves host Northwest Nazarene at 7:00 p.m. The Wolves are encouraging fans to 'Blackout' the New PE Building and wear black as they host the Crusaders in an important Great Northwest Athletic Conference match.

“We are playing extremely well right now and we are thrilled to be returning home after spending three-of-four weeks on the road,” head coach Brad Saindon said. “Northwest Nazarene will present our team a lot of challenges so we need to remain focused if we want to continue this win streak.”

The Wolves enter the match in second-place in the GNAC standings as WOU is 18-5 overall and 11-3 in league play after sweeping Montana State Billings and Seattle Pacific last week. WOU has won 17 sets in a row during the streak as the Wolves are currently ranked No. 8 in the West Region.

WOU continues to excel on both sides of the ball as the Wolves lead the league and rank No. 15 in the nation with 2.44 blocks per set. Becky Blees leads the effort as the reigning GNAC Defensive Player of the Week ranks No. 15 in the nation with 1.28 blocks per set. Krissi Kemper (0.94 blocks) and Hannah Deede (0.92 blocks) also rank in the top 10 in the category.

Offensively, WOU is led by Danielle Reese as she leads the Wolves and ranks No. 5 in the conference with 3.54 kills per set. Kemper also continues her solid play as she leads the league and ranks No. 3 in the nation with a .413 hitting percentage.

The Crusaders enter the week with a mark of 12-13 overall and 5-9 in league play after falling to CWU last week. Becky Flores leads the NNU attack with 2.82 kills per set as the Crusaders are hitting .202 as a team.

Earlier this season, WOU defeated NNU, 3-1, in Nampa, Idaho, as the Wolves look to complete the season sweep.

Following the match with the Crusaders, the Wolves return to action on Saturday, Nov. 10, when WOU faces Central Washington at 8:00 p.m.