ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – Lewis University's 15th ranked women's volleyball team hosts Quincy in its home and Great Lakes Valley Conference opener this Thursday (Sept. 16) at 7 p.m. at Neil Carey Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear RED for Thursday's match and
ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS while inside the building.
It'll be a split weekend for Lewis as it'll travel to Liberty, Mo., on Saturday afternoon to take on William Jewell at 3 p.m.
Last Time Out - The Flyers look to bounce back after dropping three of four matches last weekend at the Premiere Challenge in Denver, Colo. They fell to fifth ranked Wayne State (Neb.) in straight sets, defeated No. 17 Western Washington, lost to Regis in four sets and to seventh ranked Central Missouri in five sets.
AVCA Rankings – Lewis is ranked 15th in this week's AVCA Division II Top 25 poll. It is one of two GLVC teams ranked in this week's poll with Rockhurst checking in at No. 22. Southern Indiana received 33 votes and is listed in the receiving votes category.
Stepping Up – Sophomore outside hitter
Natalie Stefanski (Plainfield, Ill./Joliet West) recorded the second double-double of her career against Regis last Saturday recording careers in kills with 15 and digs with 23. She followed it up with a new career-high 16 kills against UCM. Stefanski ranks third on the team with 2.28 kills and 2.86 digs per set this season.
Block Party – Sophomore middle blocker
Bella Ray (Plainfield, Ill./Joliet Catholic) and fifth-year senior middle blocker
Ava Venema (Westmont, Ill./Timothy Christian) have been tough defensively at the net through the first eight matches combining for 45 of the team's 55 total blocks and are averaging 1.08 and 0.73 blocks per set respectively. Ray is ranked fifth in the GLVC in blocks.
About Quincy – The Hawks enter Thursday's match with a record of 3-5 to start the season. They opened their season dropping three of four matches at the Nova Southeastern Tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. And last weekend went 2-2 at Parkside's tournament. Emily Reghagen and Mattie Norris lead Quincy's attack averaging 3.03 and 3.00 kills per set respectively. Makayla Knoblauch quarterbacks the Hawk attack and is dissing out 9.50 assists per set. Defensively, Sydney Clark and Sarah Brown led the way up front with 0.88 and 0.83 blocks per set. America Galvin anchors the back line with 3.62 digs per set.
About William Jewell – The Cardinals enter Thursday's GLVC opener against Rockhurst with a record of 4-4 to begin the season. WJC opened its season winning three of four matches at the Washburn Invitational but dropped three of four last weekend at the UC-Colorado Springs Mountain Lion Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo. Lily Johnson leads the Cardinals with 2.78 kills per set while Bella LaPorta and Chloe Robison are averaging 2.36 and 2.15 kills per set respectively. Samantha Thompson and Hannah Cope are the team's primary setters averaging 4.96 and 5.10 assists per set. On the defensive side, Johnson leads the team in blocks with 0.83 per set and Jordan Collard is contributing 3.40 digs per set.
Series Stuff – Lewis leads the all-time series against 29-4 and has won 22 straight. Last season the Flyers swept the Hawks in a tri-match at Rockhurst.
Lewis is 9-0 all-time in the series against William Jewell dating back to 2012. Last season the Flyers defeated the Cardinals in straight sets at Neil Carey Arena.
Up Next – The Flyers are back at home next Friday hosting McKendree at 7 p.m.
