BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

PRINTABLE BOX SCORE (.pdf)

BROOKINGS, S.D. - The Western Illinois volleyball team received strong efforts from a pair of freshmen but could not overcome South Dakota State's efficiency in a 3-0 loss (16-25, 18-25, 27-29) to the Jackrabbits Saturday night at Frost Arena.

After dropping the first two sets, Western Illinois (7-5, 0-2 Summit League) came out of the intermission strong and led 23-18 following Cait Egan's sixth kill of the night. However, SDSU (10-4, 2-0 Summit League) rallied back to tie the set at 23-23 and the two teams traded points until kills from Bailey Philippot and Kaitlin Klingemann secured the win for the Jackrabbits.

Freshmen Samantha Fournier (14 kills) and Ann Miller (11 kills) accounted for over sixty percent of Western's offense. The Fighting Leathernecks hit .126 (41k-24e-135ta) while the Jackrabbits put down 45 kills and committed just 14 hitting errors (.256 attack percentage).

Fournier came off the bench two record seven kills over the first two sets. She then started the final frame and put down seven kills on 14 attempts. Fournier finished the night with a .267 attack percentage and is hitting .270 (77k-29e-178ta) on the season.  

Miller finished the night with 11 kills and 12 digs to collect her fourth straight double-double. Miller, who leads Western with 113 kills this season, owns a team-high seven double-doubles overall.

Junior libero Bridget Murphy kept several rallies alive and compiled a match-high 21 digs. Murphy had 11 digs in the second set and now owns four 20+dig performances this season.

Senior Alyssa Holum dished out a season-high 34 assists in her second consecutive start at setter. Holum, who had 16 assists in the third set, also tied season-highs with two service aces and six digs.

Freshman Molly Murphy had eight digs and picked up her team-high 15th service ace of the season while fellow freshman Mallory Gibson collected three block assists in her second start of the season. Gibson has 11 total blocks in just nine sets played this season.

Western Illinois is quickly back in Summit League action as the Fighting Leathernecks host Oakland Monday night (Sept. 19) inside Western Hall. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the Golden Grizzlies, who defeated IPFW over four sets in their conference opener Saturday night.