PHOTO ALBUM
POST-MATCH INTERVIEW WITH COACH MCKAY
BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY
PRINTABLE BOX SCORE (.pdf)
PRINTABLE PLAY-BY-PLAY (.pdf)
MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois volleyball team had three players record double-digit kills and hit .304 as a squad in a 3-0 home-opening victory (25-12, 25-12, 25-17) over Chicago State Tuesday night (Sept. 13) inside Western Hall.
The Fighting Leathernecks (7-3), off to their best start since the 1993 season, have now won three straight home openers and own a 7-3 record in home openers under tenth-year head coach Kym McKay. Western Illinois has won 13 consecutive matches over Chicago State (1-12) and is also 17-0 all-time at home against the Cougars.
"It is always important to win your home opener," said McKay following the match. "Our biggest goal was to win and give the fans something exciting to watch so that they would come back."
"I thought the players did a great job of playing exciting volleyball from beginning to end. There was a lot of energy in the gym and it was an exciting match. I think a lot of the fans that saw us tonight will come back eager to watch us again on Monday (against Oakland)."
Senior middle hitter Cait Egan moved closer to the 900-career kill milestone with a match-high 15 kills on 31 attempts (.419 attack percentage). Egan, who had seven kills in the second set, is only 14 kills away from 900 for her career. She also collected a season-high five total blocks (one solo, four assists).
Ann Miller and Samantha Fournier, the Fighting Leathernecks two highly-touted freshmen, put on a show in their home debuts. Miller collected her team-high fifth double-double of the season with 13 kills on 31 attempts and a season-high 18 digs. Meanwhile Fournier put down a season-high 13 kills on 28 attempts and collected three block assists.
Junior libero Bridget Murphy continued her stellar defensive play with a team-high 18 digs. Murphy, who had 10 digs in the final set, is averaging a Summit League-high 5.35 digs per set this season and is still on pace to become the 11th player in program history to collect 1,000 career digs later this season.
Sophomore setter Sarah Fetter, a transfer from Illinois State, had 27 assists and eight digs in her home debut while senior Alyssa Holum recorded 15 assists off the bench. Western Illinois held advantages in kills (50-23), service aces (3-2), digs (70-49) and total blocks (6-2).
Western Illinois begins Summit League play this weekend with a trip through the Dakotas. The Fighting Leathernecks take on North Dakota State Friday (Sept. 16) before a matchup with South Dakota State on Saturday (Sept. 17). Both contests start at 7 p.m. and fans can follow live stats and the WIUAthletics Twitter page for in-match updates.
