DUBUQUE, Iowa (duhawks.com) - Fresh off their first Iowa Conference win of 2016, the Loras women's volleyball team (9-9, 1-3) returns to the Athletic & Wellness Center to welcome Buena Vista and Nebraska Wesleyan as part of back-to-back home matches this week. The Duhawks face off with the Beavers at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday for their annual Dig Pink match before hosting the Prairie Wolves when then pay a visit to Dubuque for a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m on Oct. 8.

ALL-TIME VERSUS BUENA VISTA
Since 2001, Loras is 11–5 versus Buena Vista, winning its last matchup in the 2015 Iowa Conference Tournament Semifinal. After dropping a 3-0 decision during the regular season, the Duhawks responded with a five-set thriller in front of the home crowd. Therese Schultz posted 16 kills while Danni Kennedy totaled six blocks. Claire Ritchie recorded one of her three triple-doubles on the season, finishing with 24 assists, 16 digs and 15 blocks.

BEAVERS TO WATCH
Buena Vista enters this meeting with Loras with an 11–10 overall record and 2–2 mark in the Iowa Conference following consecutive losses to Luther and Wartburg this past weekend. The dynamic duo of junior Jade Schaap and senior Maddie Bardole lead the offense for Buena Vista, racking up 240 and 230 kills respectively in 2016. Defensively, senior libero Sydnee Donnelli leads the Beavers with 277 digs, providing consistency in the backcourt for Buena Vista.

ALL-TIME VERSUS NEBRASKA WESLEYAN
The Duhawks are 0-3 since 2001 versus the Prairie Wolves, but this will be their first Iowa Conference matchup following Nebraska Wesleyan's addition to the fold, starting this athletic season. 

PRAIRIE WOLVES TO WATCH
The Prairie Wolves visit Dubuque, sporting a 9–7 overall record and are 2–2 in the Iowa Conference, coming away with victories versus Luther and Central. Senior Mallory Dahl and sophomore Kierra Harder make up a two-headed Nebraska Wesleyan attack, averaging 3.21 and 2.40 kills per set respectively. Freshman Taylor Crandall facilitates the Prairie Wolve offense, racking up 601 assists through the first 16 matches of her career.

CRUCIAL IIAC SCHEDULE LIES AHEAD
Loras currently sits in seventh place in the Iowa Conference, holding a 1–3 record before dates  with No. 5 Buena Vista and No. 6 Nebraska Wesleyan this week. With the inaugural Iowa Conference tournament looming, the Duhawks will have ample opportunities to climb the conference table in the coming weeks to try and secure a top-four spot and first-round home game in postseason play. This week will be no easy task for Loras as both the Beavers and Prairie Wolves sport above-.500 records on the road in 2016. 

BALANCING BLAKE
Senior Tara Blake has seen most of her time as an outside hitter in her career as a Duhawk, but was called on this past weekend against Simpson to perform back-row setting duties due to injury. Blake's versatility showed in the match as she posted 15 assists and 10 digs to lead Loras to its first IIAC win of 2016.  In the first match of the weekend, Blake showed her defensive prowess, totaling 21 digs in five sets, improving her 2016 average of 2.64 per set in the process.

TURNING THE CORNER
After a up-and-down start to the season, Loras appears to have turned the corner, winning four out of its last six matches. The Duhawks secured their first conference win in a sweep of Simpson on Saturday, improving to 9–9 overall and 1–3 in the Iowa Conference. Loras hit a season-high .257 in the win as the Duhawks' vaunted middle attack was on full display with seniors Danni Kennedy and Therese Schultz combining for 21 kills. Led by junior Haley Bergan's 19, Loras also rolled up 64 digs in the three-set sweep. 

OPTIONS ON OFFENSE
A balanced attack has been a cornerstone of the Loras offense during the tenure of head coach Jenna Ness. Despite Friday night's loss to Central, the Duhawks spread out the offensive attack in the first match of the weekend, with eight players combining for 52 kills in defeat. In the second match, the offense was once again again spread throughout, with six attackers combining for 42 kills on Saturday to lead Loras to its first IIAC victory of 2016. Four different Loras players had a least 19 attempts in the match, with senior Danni Kennedy leading the way with 12 kills on 24 attempts.