Weekly Notes | Live Video and Audio

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After suffering their first loss since September 1, the DU volleyball team will return to the Student Center on Wednesday to host NAIA No. 18 Madonna University. The Lady Panthers (17-4, 4-1 WHAC) will then host 4-time defending league champion Indiana Tech on Friday as both matches are slated for 7pm starts. Head coach Megan Lenhart and her team are in the midst of the most grueling part of their 2012 schedule as the three-match WHAC stretch features matches against teams that are a combined 60-14.

Davenport saw their school record 10-match winning streak come to an end last week as the UNOH Racers won their 20th straight match overall with a 3-1 win in Ohio.  Nicole Chase continues to be among the nation's leaders in blocks as she currently ranks #35 in blocks per set and #49 in total blocks and she will lead the team into two crucial league matchups against Madonna (21-5, 5-0 WHAC) and Indiana Tech (16-8, 5-0 WHAC). Davenport is a combined 2-25 all-time against their two opponents this week (1-14 vs. Madonna and 1-11 vs. Indiana Tech).

Scouting Madonna University (21-5, 5-0) – Wednesday, 7pm at home
The last time Madonna made a visit to the Student Center, Davenport posted a 3-0 win for the program's first ever victory over the Crusaders. Jerry Abraham is the only coach in school history for Madonna as he has posted a career record of 991-259. Madonna had won 15 straight matches from September 1 through this past weekend, but fell to Top-25 foe Indiana East to end their winning streak but the Crusaders still find themselves ranked in the Top-20 at No. 18.

Madonna, known for a powerful offense over the years, boast the reigning WHAC player of the week in Evia Prieditis who leads the team with 998 assists.  She has the luxury of setting the ball to five players who have gone over 100 kills so far in 2012 including Natija Branovska (245), Emilie Freeman (222) and local high school standout Samantha Geile (217) who hails from Fruitport, Mich.

A preview of Indiana Tech (16-8, 5-0) – Friday, 7pm at home
The Warriors of Indiana Tech are under first year head coach Kourtney Volkmer and are the 4-time defending WHAC champions.  Indiana Tech has posted a WHAC record of 56-2 in their last four seasons combined with 5-0 record this year. Although the team got off to a slow start after the graduation of many top players from a year ago to go along with the resignation of their head coach, Tech has picked up their play as of late and they posted wins over St. Xavier and Grace who were receiving votes as well as a win over Indiana East who was ranked #18 at the time.

The Warriors are led offensively by a familiar name to the DU Athletic family as Kelsey Cox (sister of NAIA All-American basketball player Nate Cox) is tops in kills with 249. Stacy Nagy is just behind her with 211 while Kelsey Fitzpatrick leads the team with 804 assists. Returning All-WJAC performer Kayla Foreman is the anchor for the defense as she has combined with Darcie Faylor for 622 digs.

Davenport, in search of their first league title in school history, enters the week one game behind both of their opponents as the Panthers are 4-1 in WHAC play. Their only setback came at the hands of Northwestern Ohio and will need wins on their home court to keep pace in the single round robin format.

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