West Central Reporter

The Leatherneck Volleyball team is preparing for a challenging week as they face two top teams in the Ohio Valley Conference. They will host Lindenwood and travel to Tennessee Tech. The Leathernecks have won their last six matches, marking their longest winning streak since 2007. Over the weekend, they defeated SIUE, winning in four sets on Friday and sweeping them in three sets on Saturday, starting conference play with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2007.

Maggie Craker had an impressive performance during the opening weekend of OVC play. On Friday, she recorded 46 assists, 13 digs, and 2 kills in a four-set victory. She followed this with 45 assists, 4 digs, and 2 kills on Saturday while the team achieved a hitting percentage of .423 in their sweep over SIUE. Craker has accumulated 2,534 career assists and is nearing fourth place all-time in Leatherneck Volleyball history for career assists. She was named the OVC Co-Setter of the Week on September 30.

Lindenwood enters the match against WIU with an overall record of 8-6 and a conference record of 2-0 after defeating Eastern Illinois twice last weekend. They were projected to finish fifth in the OVC preseason polls. The winner between Lindenwood and WIU will hold sole possession of first place in the OVC before heading into weekend matches.

Lindenwood's offense is led by outside hitters Nyah Wilson and Addy McAleer. Wilson has accumulated 132 kills (2.44 K/S) while McAleer has secured 129 kills (2.35 K/S). Their top setter is Allie Otten with 468 assists (8.51 A/S) along with 12 service aces over fourteen matches played. Defensively, Libero Jessie Seidel leads with a total of 249 digs (4.53 dig/s).

Last season, Lindenwood swept WIU at home during their only meeting.

Tennessee Tech boasts a season record of 13-1 with their only loss against Marshall at the Greensboro Invitational. The Golden Eagles are also undefeated in conference play after victories over Tennessee State and Morehead State.

Senior Outside Hitter Madolyn Isringhausen leads Tennessee Tech offensively; she ranks first in total kills (233) and service aces (27) within the OVC standings this year. Senior Libero Mckenna Young anchors their defense with her tally of 221 digs (4.51 dig/s).

In previous encounters last season at Western Hall both matches saw WIU being swept by Tennessee Tech across four sets each time.

Looking ahead beyond these matchups: next week sees Leathernecks returning home hosting Eastern Illinois October tenth & eleventh—matches scheduled Thursday evening six p.m., followed Friday afternoon starting four p.m.

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