EDAWRDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE volleyball continues its 2024 campaign with its first Ohio Valley Conference meeting with Western Illinois on Friday, Sept. 27,2024. SIUE is 5-6 overall and currently has a three game win streak. 

LAST TIME OUT: The Cougars dominated the Saluki Invitational last weekend. SIUE defeated SIU Carbondale 3-1 and Missouri State 3-2. 

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Fifth year Sydney Hummert collected two double-doubles last weekend. Against SIU Carbondale, Hummert had 13 kills hitting at a .186 clip and 13 digs. She got her second double-double of the weekend against Missouri state, with 10 kills and 14 digs. Junior Ainsley Ranstead had 16 kills and 10 digs against Missouri State as well. 

THE SERIES: SIUE is 4-6 in the all-time series against Western Illinois. The Cougars have gone 1-2 when playing in Macomb. 

BLOCK PARTY: Freshman Taya Nordmann leads the team with 61 total blocks, averaging 1.24 a set. Following her is grad transfer Nicole Meldin (50/1.02) and junior Bree Schreimann (31/.63).

OVC-IT: Conference individual leaders include Medlin who ranks second in the OVC for hitting percentage at .320.This season she has 100 kills 25 errors and 231 attempts. The middle also ranks fourth for blocks totaling 50 so far. Nordmann leads the OVC with blocks, recording 61 blocks this season, including eight solo blocks and 53 block assists. Nordmann averages 1.24 blocks a set. Hummert ranks seventh in both service aces (13/.37 a set) and points (118/3.37 a set). 

PRESEASON HONORS: Hummert was recognized as an OVC player to watch this season. In her 2023 season she led the Cougars with 315 kills. Her 2.76 kills per set also led SIUE while ranking 9th in the conference. She added 300 digs and 35 service aces,while recording 66 total blocks. Hummert locked away 793 total digs last season surpassing the 500 career marker. 

AT THE HELM: Head Coach Kendall Paulus enters her 17th season with the Cougars and her eighth as head coach, with a career record of 90-102.