GUNNISON, Colo. – Two top-25 teams await Western State Colorado University this week in Kearney, Nebraska. The Mountaineers are on the road for five matches in three days, starting Thursday night at 5 p.m. against No. 5 University of Nebraska – Kearney.
 
Western (0-4, 0-0 RMAC) will be searching for their first win of the season this weekend. However, like last weekend, the Mountaineers will be facing stiff competition. After Thursday night's match against No. 5 UNK, Western will face Texas A&M – Kingsville at 9 a.m. and Southeastern Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. on Friday. Saturday, the Mountaineers go up against No. 25 Rockhurst University at 9 a.m. and then face Northwestern Oklahoma State University at 3 p.m.
 
Friday and Saturday's matches are a part of the New Victorian Inn & Suites/Runza Fall Classic hosted by UNK in Kearney, Nebraska.
 
Jordan Eatwell and true freshman Kiki Johnson are leading the Mountaineers' hitting attack. Eatwell leads the team with 29 kills, while Johnson is close behind with 23. Another true freshman, Hanna Hendrickson, leads Western in assists as the primary setter. Hendrickson has recorded 89 assists in 13 sets played.
 
Western's McKenzie Price is tied for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference lead in service aces per set at 0.57. Price has four aces in just seven sets this season.
 
Thursday night's opponent, UNK (3-1, 0-0 MIAA), comes in ranked fifth in Division II. However, the Lopers lost their last match to Lewis University in four sets. UNK lost only two matches last season and have made the NCAA tournament each of the last 18 seasons.
 
Kendall Schroer leads the Lopers' offensive attack, already totaling 50 kills on in four matches.
 
Friday, the Mountaineers face TAMK (3-3, 0-0 Lone Star). The Javelina's are riding a three match losing streak after dropping three sets to No. 9 Augustana University on Wednesday. So far this season, Kingsville is 2-1 against RMAC opponents. The Javelina's have defeated New Mexico Highlands University 3-2 and Colorado Christian University 3-1. However, NMHU defeated TAMK 3-2 in a rematch on Sept. 2.
 
Krystal Faison and Madison Brabham lead the Javelina's attack. Faison has recorded 66 kills in six matches, while Brabham is close behind with 63.
 
Friday's second match comes at 3 p.m. against Southeastern Oklahoma State (2-2, 0-0 GAC). The Savage Storm enter the Fall Classic having lost their last match, 3-1, to Dallas Baptist University. SOSU will face UNK at 11 a.m. prior to the match against Western.
 
Abby Jameson leads the Savage Storm in kills with 49.
 
Western will face a tough team on Saturday at 9 a.m. in the 25^th ranked Rockhurst University (3-1, 0-0 GLVC). The Hawks enter the fall classic having won their last two match in three straight sets. The lone loss came against Tarleton State University on Sept. 1. The Hawks lost the match 3-0.
 
RU will face Northwestern Oklahoma State and UNK on Friday before Saturday's match against the Mountaineers.
 
Alyssa Woodman leads the Hawks' scoring attack with 41 kills.
 
The final match of the weekend comes at 3 p.m. against Northwestern Oklahoma State (5-0, 0-0 GAC). The Rangers have given up only one set in five matches this season. Fort Lewis College was the only team to win a set against NOSU, losing 3-1 on Sept. 2.
 
Jennifer Eubanks leads the Rangers in scoring with 58 kills in 16 sets. Eubanks is hitting .471 through the first five matches.
 
Fans unable to make the trip to Kearney, Nebraska this weekend can still follow the Mountaineers live online against UNK (Thursday's live stats, Thursday's live video) and on social media throughout the weekend (@WSCUVolleyball, @WSCUMountaineer).