WOU HOSTS SAINT MARTIN'S AND SEATTLE PACIFIC AT NEW PE
The Wolves return to the New P.E. Building this weekend to host Saint Martin's on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Seattle Pacific on Saturday, also at 7 p.m. These two matches open the second half of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play for WOU. Thursday's match is the annual Pink Out Night for awareness and aiding in the search to eradicate breast cancer. Saturday's match, in conjunction with Homecoming weekend, will be WOU Alumni Day. Both matches will have video/live stat coverage on WOUWolves.com/Live.

WOLVES' WATCH
Junior outside hitter Alisha Bettinson is leading Western Oregon in kills through 17 matches with 228, averaging 3.45 kills per set. Sophomore Amanda Short is second with 144 kills while Mariella Vandenkooy (127) and Paige Orth (126) follow. Orth is the WOU leading blocker at 0.77 blocks per game. Sophomore setter Maddie Mehciz leads the team with 10.10 assists per set while senior libero Christie Colasurdo paces the team with 4.91 digs per game followed by Bettinson at 3.03 digs. Redshirt freshman Libbie Hoene has the touch from the line leading WOU in serving aces with 31, good for the top spot in the GNAC (0.44 per set) and 64^th nationally. As a team, the Wolves are 35^th in the nation is digs per set (17.94).

SCOUTING THE SAINT MARTIN'S SAINTS
Saint Martin's has lost two straight matches and seven of their last nine matches after getting off to the best start in their Division II history (5-1). Last week, SMU dropped a pair of three-set losses at home to Western Washington and Simon Fraser. The Saints are averaging 11.8 kills, 1.1 aces, 16.6 digs and 1.6 blocks per game, hitting .199 as a team. Three players are averaging two or more kills per game, led by a 3.0 average from Rebecca Mitchell. Also above 2.0 kps are Rachel Gondrezick (2.74) and Megan Vernoy (2.2). Setting duties have been split between Nicolette Nesbitt (6.08 assists per game) and Dani Williams (4.2 apg). Cassidy Apo is the top digger on the team with 215 on the season (4.3 average).
 
THE MATCHUP: WOLVES VS. SAINTS
Since 1995, Western Oregon enjoys a 33-4 advantage in the all-time series and currently has a two-match winning streak (3-1 in Monmouth, Oct.24, 2015 and 3-2 in Lacey, Sept. 24, 2016). The Wolves had an 18-match win streak over SMU from 2005-2013.

SCOUTING THE SEATTLE PACIFIC FALCONS
Seattle Pacific alternated wins and losses last week and is at Concordia on Thursday. The Falcons swept past Simon Fraser before dropping a five-setter to Western Washington. SPU is 1-6 this season in five-set matches with the lone win coming against Azusa Pacific on Sept. 10. The Falcons are averaging 11.8 kills, 1.3 aces, 17.9 digs and 2.6 blocks per game, hitting .151 as a team. There are eight hitters better than 1.5 kills per set, led by 3.41 kills a game from Gabby Oddo and 2.84 kps from Lexi Biondi. Symone Tran sets up the offense with 10.04 assists per game while Amanda Ganete leads the digs category with 4.83 per game.
 
THE MATCHUP: WOLVES VS. FALCONS
Seattle Pacific owns a 27-17 advantage in the all-time series after sweeping the Wolves at Royal Brougham Pavilion on Sept. 22. The teams have split over the past two seasons, with SPU last sweeping a regular-season series back in 2013.
 
WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON
The Wolves will embark on their third road trip in four weeks when they travel to #19 Western Washington on Thursday, Oct. 27 and Simon Fraser on Saturday, Oct. 29, both matches at 7 p.m. The WOU-WWU match will have live coverage on WOUWolves.com/live and the WOU-SFU match will have video courtesy of the Clan's YouTube channel.