MACOMB, Ill. - Fighting Leatherneck volleyball dropped a five-set match to the IUPUI Jaguars on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 3) in Macomb. The Leathernecks fall to 11-14 overall and 5-5 in league play following the loss. IUPUI is now 15-12 overall and at the top of the conference with a 9-2 mark in league play.  

“There were moments when we had a lot of heart and a lot of passion but then we lost it. We weren't consistent with it the entire match,” said head coach April Hall. “In the end errors and lack of communication kind of killed us. We didn't take advantage of IUPUI's best player being out. They're a great team regardless of her being out, they're a great ball control team but I just don't think we capitalized on the fact that she was out and we could have stole that match today. We did have heart at times but a communication break down really got us in the end.“

The Jags jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the opening set and never looked back on their way to a 25-12 set win. Jordan Jackson and Mallory Gibson led the Leatherneck offense with four and three kills, respectively. Molly Murphy recorded seven digs for the Purple & Gold in the opener. 

Western started off strong in the second set and held a 13-8 advantage midway through. IUPUI made a comeback, however, eventually tying the match at 19-19. The squads then went back-and-forth until the end, with the Purple & Gold prevailing, 26-24. The Leathernecks recorded five blocks in the set, led by Gibson who notched two solo blocks. 

Set three saw nine tie scores and three lead changes as IUPUI was victorious, 25-18. The Jaguars went on a six-point run midway through the set that proved to be the difference maker. Murphy added six more digs for Western in the set, while Sarah Fetter assisted on 10 kills.

The fourth set went to the Leathernecks, 26-24. The set was back-and-forth until the Jags used a three-point run late to go up 23-20. After a Western timeout, the Leathernecks battled back to tie the set at 23-23. Kills by Gibson and Melanie Miller gave the Leathernecks the victory and tied the match at 2-2. 

The deciding fifth set went to the Jaguars, 15-9. With the match tied at 6-6 early on, IUPUI went on an eight-point run to take a 14-6 lead. Western rallied to score three points, but a Kaitlyn Hickey kill ended the rally and gave the Jags the 3-2 match win.  

Gibson bettered her career-high of 18 kills that she recorded on Friday (Nov. 1) with 20 kills in the match. The junior also finished with six blocks for Western. 

Jackson posted a career-high 11 kills with a career-best .476 hitting percentage. She also had four blocks.

True-freshmen Melanie Miller and Nicole Oestrike both recorded season-highs with eight and five kills, respectively. Miller also recorded a career-best seven blocks, while Oestrike notched two. 

Fetter assisted on 46 kills and posted two blocks. 

Murphy was impressive defensively, recording a team-best 25 digs. Ann Miller (19), Heather Smith (16) and Fetter (16) also finished with 15-plus digs. Western recorded a season-high 91 digs as a team.

Western also finished with 15 total blocks, which is a new season-high. 

Hickey led all attackers with 21 kills in the match, while Meredith Farkas (13), Kell Wachtel (12) and Kortni Wright (11) each recorded ten-plus kills for the Jags. 

Western will be back in action next weekend when they make their final road trip of the 2013 regular season. The Leathernecks will take on North Dakota State on Friday (Nov. 8) in Fargo and South Dakota State on Saturday (Nov. 9) in Brookings. 

“It's always hard to play in the Dakotas, both places, but it's a great atmosphere up there,” added Hall. “I think this weekend really shows us that we can do it, we can end the season very strong and we can fight, and fight very hard.”

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