MACOMB, Ill. ? For the third year in a row the Western Illinois volleyball team defeated Oral Roberts in Brophy Hall, 3-2 (22-30, 30-24, 17-30, 30-25, 15-13). The Westerwinds (6-10, 3-2 The Summit League) were lead by senior Ashley Baker, who tallied 13 kills, 14 digs, three service aces and three block assists.

Western broke out to an early 3-0 lead in game five, benefiting from three Golden Eagles (9-8, 4-1 Summit League) errors. The Westerwinds never allowed Oral Roberts to gain a lead in the final match, but did allow it to tie the game at 12. A service error by Carol Garbato and a well-timed solo block by sophomore Erin Frick put Western up for good.

“It was a great blocking night for us,” said head coach Kym McKay. “We knew coming in that Oral Roberts takes big swings, but they are right at the top of the net. From a blocking perspective that put us at an advantage because we knew that they wouldn't be hitting over our block. We got better as the match went on, but it was all about the timing of them.”

Game one was close until the Golden Eagles pulled away from a 13-13 tie and never looked back.

Western started out down again in game two by as many as three points before junior Sarah Trimpe started a five-point run with a kill and then served four-straight points for the Westerwinds. Oral Roberts fought back to tie the game at 14 and then a battle for the lead started. Western pulled ahead for good when Jackie Oliveira recorded a service error to put the Westerwinds ahead 23-22. The game saw 13 ties and five lead changes.

Game three went to the Golden Eagles, who took the early lead and never allowed Western to gain an advantage.

The fourth game started out similar to the third, as the Golden Eagles jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and led by as many as five (6-1) before Western pulled back into the game. Senior Amy Sauerwein stared a three-point run for the Westerwinds with a kill. Oral Roberts kept the match close. The Golden Eagles did not allow Western to get ahead by more than three points until the Westerwinds broke a 19-all tie that started a four-point run to go ahead for good.

Western earned victory with the help of key blocks and hitting errors from the Golden Eagles. The Westerwinds recorded 17 team blocks to Oral Roberts' eight and tallied on 25 errors to the 38 by the Golden Eagles.

“It wasn't a clean match on our side,” said McKay. “But it is all about when you are making your errors and you can see in game five that ORU statistically should have won. They had 11 kills to our four, but they also had nine errors versus our two.”

Western next faces Centenary, Saturday, October 6 at 6 p.m. at Waste Management Court at Western Hall.

Notes: Western is now 5-1 in five-game matches this season...the Westerwinds saw double-doubles from three players...Baker tallied 13 kills and 14 digs...Sauerwein garnered 14 kills and 13 digs...Trimpe added 38 assists and 14 digs...Western has won the last three matches against Oral Roberts at home in Brophy Hall...Sauerwein needs just 18 kills to join the 1,000 Kill/1,000 Dig Club at Western.