WOU HITS ROAD FOR TESTS AGAINST WWU, SFU
Before hosting a four-match homestand beginning next week, the Western Oregon volleyball travels this weekend for matches with the second and third-place teams in the GNAC. On Thursday, the Wolves face #17 Western Washington at the Whatcom CC Pavilion and head to Canada for a Saturday night match with Simon Fraser. Both matches begin at 7 p.m. Pacific and will have video/live stat coverage on WOUWolves.com/Live.

WOLVES' WATCH
Junior outside hitter Alisha Bettinson is leading Western Oregon in kills through 19 matches with 254, averaging 3.43 kills per set. Sophomore Amanda Short is second with 156 kills while Mariella Vandenkooy (151) and Paige Orth (148) follow. Orth is the WOU leading blocker at 0.84 blocks per game. Sophomore setter Maddie Mehciz leads the team with 10.33 assists per set while senior libero Christie Colasurdo paces the team with 5.18 digs per game followed by Bettinson at 3.16 digs. Redshirt freshman Libbie Hoene has the touch from the line leading WOU in serving aces with 31, good for fifth in the GNAC (0.42 per set) and 94^th nationally. As a team, the Wolves are 13^th in the nation is digs per set (18.62).

SCOUTING THE WESTERN WASHINGTON VIKINGS
Western Washington is coming off their biggest win of the season, a five-set road triumph over Alaska Anchorage (20-18 in the fifth set) that handed the Seawolves their second loss of the season. WWU now has the longest winning streak in the GNAC at nine matches. The Vikings are averaging 13.9 kills, 1.3 aces, 18.1 digs and 1.9 blocks per game, hitting .247 as a team. Four players are averaging 2.00 kps, led by sophomore Abby Phelps' 3.21. Sophomore Brette Boesel (7.09 assists per game) and junior Kristina Tribley (5.08) share the setting duties. Redshirt freshman Mae Thungc is tops with 4.61 dps (212 overall), while Phelps is the overall digs leader with 291. Sophomore middle blocker Kayleigh Harper leads WWU with 1.09 bps.
 
THE MATCHUP: WOLVES VS. VIKINGS
WWU leads the series dating back to 1988 by a 32-13 advantage, having won seven in a row against the Wolves. Last time out, WOU took the nationally-ranked Vikings to five sets in Monmouth (Oct. 1). The last Western Oregon victory in the series came on Oct. 25, 2012 in a three-game sweep at home. 

SCOUTING THE SIMON FRASER CLAN
Simon Fraser, which hosts Concordia on Thursday, almost rallied from 0-2 down before falling at Alaska Anchorage, then downed Alaska in three sets last week on the road. The Clan is averaging 13.3 kills, 1.3 aces, 19.2 digs and 2.1 blocks per game, hitting .189 as a club. Five different players are averaging over 2.00 kps, led by 2.93 from senior Emma Jennings. Senior Devon May is second with 2.67 kps, while sophomore Tessa May is just behind at 2.56. Fifth-year senior Tamara Nipp is fourth in the GNAC with 11.13 assists per game as SFU's primary setter. Senior libero Alison McKay is tops on the squad with 6.55 dps, followed by Devon May (3.15) and Jennings (2.58). Tessa May is the biggest threat at the net defensively with 1.2 bps.

THE MATCHUP: WOLVES VS. CLAN
Western Oregon leads the all-time series with SFU, 20-6, but the Clan has won the last five meetings with the Wolves.
 
WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON
The Wolves open up their final homestand of the year, facing Alaska on Nov. 3 and Alaska Anchorage on Nov. 5 inside New P.E. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.