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COMPLETE NOTES • 2017 STATISTICS
> With just two weeks left in the regular season, three American volleyball teams remain in pursuit of the conference title, including Wichita State²¹, SMU and Temple.
 
> Wichita State is riding a 16-match winning streak in conference play—the second-most consecutive matches won in American Athletic Conference history. The Shockers have spent 10 weeks in the AVCA national rankings behind a strong offense, ranking first in conference in kills (15.19) and assists (14.32) per set and hitting percentage (.334). Wichita State has also held its conference foes to a hitting a league-low .132. Senior middle blocker Abbie Lehman has earned a conference weekly accolade for the past four weeks and leads The American in blocks (79; 1.49 per set) and points (5.10 per set) with a conference-best .529 hitting percentage. The Shockers will travel to Tulsa and SMU, as a win over the Mustangs could secure a first-ever American title.
 
> SMU, the two-time reigning conference champion, will look to defend its title against the Shockers at home. But first, the Mustangs will need a win against Memphis on Friday in order to stay in the championship conversation. Standing in second place with a 13-3 league record, it will be a true battle of offense and defense when the Mustangs clash with the Shockers. SMU has the second-most digs in conference action with 1,124 and leads The American with 153 blocks. Conference opponents have averaged the third-lowest hitting percentage when facing SMU (.176).
 
> Temple has won eight of their last 10 contests and is coming off a 2-0 weekend with a pair of five-set victories. Senior right side hitter Izzy Rapacz was named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Week after averaging a double-double and posting 41 digs and 26 kills with 1.50 blocks per set over the weekend to help the Owls stay in the race for the conference title. Four games behind Wichita State with a 12-4 American record, Temple is in a must-win scenario from here on out. The third-place Owls will host the league’s Sunshine State teams this weekend—two opponents Temple defeated earlier this season. The Owls swept USF on Oct. 13 and outlasted UCF on Oct. 15 to earn a 3-2 win. Temple leads the conference in kills (907) and assists (864) and rank second in kills per set (14.17) and assists per set (13.50). A bid to the NCAA Tournament would be the first since 2002 when the Owls made a run to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

Upcoming Schedule
 
Friday, November 17
USF vs UConn • 7 p.m.*
UCF vs. Temple •7 p.m.*
Wichita State²¹ vs. Tulsa • 8 p.m.*
Memphis  vs. SMU • 8 p.m.*
ECU  vs. Houston • 8 p.m.*
Cincinnati  vs. Tulane • 8 p.m.*
 
Sunday, November 19
UCF vs UConn • Noon *
USF vs. Temple • 1 p.m.*
ECU vs. Tulane • 1 p.m.*
Cincinnati  vs. Houston • 2 p.m.*
Wichita State²¹  vs. SMU • 2 p.m.*
Memphis  vs. Tulsa • 2 p.m.*
 
All times Eastern and subject to change
*Denotes conference matches