Box Score
MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois volleyball team defeated UMKC 3-1 Saturday night to sweep its weekend Summit League series and record the team's third-consecutive win.
The Fighting Leathernecks (5-8, 2-1 Summit League) took each of their three set wins in dramatic fashion by coming from behind and going into extra points in the first, third and fourth sets. Western took the first set 28-26 before falling in the second set 22-25 and rebounding for 33-31 and 27-25 wins in the third and fourth sets.
"Tonight's match was one of the most nail biting matches I have ever coached in," Western Illinois coach Kym McKay said. "Both teams played their butts off. The difference was UMKC started off each set playing strong and we ended each set playing strong."
UMKC (4-9, 0-4 Summit League) led by at least five points in each of Western's three winning sets only to have the Leathernecks make late charges. McKay said defense was a big key for both teams in a match that saw several long rallies. The two teams combined for 232 digs with Western recording 122 and UMKC recording 110.
"Defensively, both teams played hard. Both teams defensively kept their teams in the match and put a lot of pressure on the offense," McKay said.
While both teams had several unforced errors throughout the night, McKay said the Kangaroos' came at the more inopportune times.
"Unforced errors were not very good for us, be they gave us a lot of points as well. It just came down to really small things," McKay said. "It was a great volleyball match out of two teams that are going to be in contention to get to the Summit League Tournament."
Ellen Miller led Western with 47 assists and a career-high 31 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.
"Ellen Miller is really going to raise some heads now with the stats that she's putting up," McKay said. "She did phenomenal tonight. That kid gives 110 percent effort every game on every ball."
Cait Egan led the Western Illinois attack with 16 kills while Katie Hosteng and Krissy Bergquist each had 11 kills. Brooke Stittleburg had 26 digs while Bridget Murphy had 26 digs and Elise Crnjak had 20 digs.
After winning each of its three games during the week, McKay said her young squad is gaining confidence.
"Coming from IUPUI, where we did not play well, to have a week where we were 3-0 is hopefully going to give us some confidence," McKay said. "All three matches were very different types of matches. To have victories on all of those different scenarios needs to give our players confidence that it doesn't matter what is on the other side of the net, we have ways to win."
Western will have the week off before heading north to face South Dakota State Friday Sept. 25, and North Dakota State Saturday Sept. 26.
"We can use next week to focus more now on some technique. When you have a mid-week game you are rushing a lot of things. You don't get as much out of practices the day after," McKay said. "This week with four practices, we can really sit down and get a game plan."
