Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Commerce
Friday, Oct. 24, 2014 | 5:30 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (6-17, 2-10); Texas A&M-Commerce (4-19, 2-9)
Live Video: None
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com 
 
Midwestern State vs. Texas Woman's
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 | 2 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (6-17, 2-10); Texas Woman's (14-7, 8-3)
Live Video: None
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State begins its final push to earn a spot in the Lone Star Conference Postseason with two critical league contests against Texas A&M-Commerce and Texas Woman's this weekend at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
- Texas A&M-Commerce has dropped three straight after scoring a 3-1 upset win over Angelo State on Oct. 11 in Commerce.
- The Lions are 0-6 in true road contests this season and 1-9 in matches played away from the A&M-Commerce Fieldhouse.
- A&M-Commerce's last true road win came against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Nov. 8, 2013.
- Senior outside hitter Amy Devault ranks second in the LSC and 11th in NCAA Division II with 4.06 kills per set.
- Devault leads the nation in total attacks (1051.0), is fourth in attacks per set (12.82) and fifth in total kills (341.0).
- Junior outside hitter Veronika Baric and sophomore middle blocker Taryn Driver give A&M-C a second and third option averaging 2.19 and 2.06 kills per set, respectively.
- Sophomore defensive specialist Ashley Mireles leads the Lions from the back with 4.77 digs per ranking fifth in the LSC and 82nd in NCAA Division II.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets Texas A&M-Commerce for the 32nd time on the floor Friday night at Ligon Coliseum.
- The Lions lead the all time series 18-13, but the teams have split the 14 matches played in Wichita Falls.
- Texas A&M-Commerce claimed a five-set win earlier this season in Commerce.
 
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
- Texas Woman's rides a four-match winning streak into this weekend's play and has won six of its last seven with the lone setback coming in five sets to LSC leading West Texas A&M.
- The Pioneers have dominated to an 8-1 mark on its home court in Kitty Magee Arena, but is 6-6 in games outside of Denton this season.
- TWU brings nation's second-best net rotation to the dome this weekend as the Pioneers average 2.56 blocks per set led by freshman middle blocker Elizabeth Pennington (1.15 blocks per set) and senior outside hitter Jaqueline Santos (1.05 blocks per set).
- Pennington has proven to be one of the best all-around players in the LSC averaging a team-high 2.96 kills per set while hitting an efficient .345. In addition to ranking sixth in NCAA Division II in blocks per set (1.15), she boasts 34 service aces and averages 0.55 digs per set.
- Santos rates second on the squad with 2.78 kills per set while hitting .246, while sophomore outside hitter Mallory Kuechle adds 2.48 kills per set.
- Senior defensive specialist Morgan Wilson ranks second in the LSC and 36th nationally with 5.24 digs per set.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets Texas Woman's for the 41st time on the court Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- TWU leads the all-time series 25-15, but the teams have split the 18 matches played in Wichita Falls.
- The Pioneers have won the last seven meetings of the series dating back to the 2010 campaign.
- Midwestern's last victory came by a 3-1 count on Oct. 23, 2010 in Denton.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State looks to snap a five-match skid Friday against Texas A&M-Commerce.
- The Mustangs have lost their last 10 sets dating back to a five-set loss to Lubbock Christian on Oct. 15.
- Midwestern has dropped 16 of its last 18 matches since opening the season with a 4-1 mark.
- MSU is currently a half-game behind Texas A&M-Commerce and a full game back of Cameron as the three teams battle it out for the eighth and final spot in the LSC Postseason Tournament.
- The Mustangs rank fifth in all of NCAA Division II in team total attacks (3391.0), 22nd in team digs (1476.0) and 23rd in team total blocks (179.0).
- Senior defensive specialist Casey Fletcher (Eddy, Texas / Moody HS) leads the LSC and rates 29th nationally with 5.36 digs per set. She is ninth nationally with 477.0 total digs.
- Fletcher is currently eighth on MSU's all time digs list with 1,366 and needs five to pass former NAIA All American Mandy Pinkerton, who had 1,370 from 1995-98.
- Fletcher needs seven more digs to pass Amy Stewart (483 digs in 1994) for 10th on MSU's single season digs chart. She needs 19 to move past Kelli Ridenhour (494 digs in 1994) and into ninth.
- Sophomore middle blocker Sarah Garfield (Wichita Falls, Texas / Holliday HS) is currently tied with Lauren Bayer (2009) for 10th on the single season solo blocks list with 30. She needs three to pass Molly Truelove (32 in 1995) and Bayer (32 in 2010) to climb into eighth.
- Junior outside hitter Nicole Marzik (Prosper, Texas / Prosper HS (Fairfield)) leads the team with 2.45 kills per set, while junior outside hitter Hunter Porter (Red Oak, Texas / Red Oak HS (Emporia State)) pitches in 2.38 kills per set.
- Sophomore setter Sarah Rosinke (League City, Texas / Clear Springs HS) ranks fifth in the LSC with 0.35 service aces per set.
 
MUSTANGS UNDER VENERA FLORES-STAFFORD
- Venera Flores-Stafford is in her 11th season at the helm at MSU posting a 176-168 record (.512).
- The Mustangs are 70-84 (.455) in Lone Star Conference play during the Flores-Stafford era.
 
UP NEXT
- Midwestern State closes out the home portion of its schedule Thursday night against Southern Nazarene at Ligon Coliseum before taking on Cameron Friday night in Lawton.