MACOMB, Ill. - Tournament most valuable player Ashley Baker hit a career-high .607 and had a season-high 18 kills as Western Illinois defeated Eastern Illinois 3-1 to capture the Pizza Hut Invitational championship.?It was a true team effort,? head coach Kym McKay said, ?Ten women, all playing and doing what they needed to do to stay on the floor and compete.?The Westerwinds (3-6) won all three of their matches over the weekend, achieving a 9-1 record in games.?One of our season goals was to win a tournament,? McKay said. ?Winning at home is just the icing on the cake.?Western won eight consecutive games in the tournament before the Eastern Illinois Panthers (5-2) took game three of the invitational?s final match, 30-21.The Westerwinds responded to the setback by taking an 8-2 lead early in game four. Western maintained a comfortable lead late into the match, when, up 28-19, the Panthers made a push with a 6-1 run. Needing one point for the tournament championship, senior Lisa Suellentrop dumped a set into open space on the right side of the net, resulting in a kill and the tournament championship.Western dominated the opening game, taking an 11-3 lead early, and finishing the match 30-13. Baker collected four kills on five swings, while Amy Sauerwein and Emily Harrison chipped in three kills a piece. The Westerwinds stunted the Eastern offense, as the Panthers mustered a -.243 hitting percentage in game one.The Panthers took to the offensive in game two, compiling a 13-6 lead over the Westerwinds, who battled back to tie the set at 18-18. McKay?s team put together a 10-4 run, highlighted by two kills from Harrison, and captured the game 30-24.Baker?s tournament resume included a 4.90 kills per game average, a .524 hitting percentage, and six errors through three matches. Sauerwein was also named to the all-tournament team for her 3.80 kpg average and 4.10 digs per game. Jennifer Alexander made the team as well, with a 6.00 dpg.Eastern Illinois? Maren Crabtree and Eliza Zwettler were voted onto the all-tournament team, along with Butler?s Krystal Hendrix and DePaul?s Caitlin Callaghan.Up next for the Westerwinds is Drake in Des Moines, Iowa Tuesday, September 12, then the Illinois-Chicago Invitational September 15-16.- western illinois volleyball -