MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Fighting Leatherneck volleyball concluded play in the 2013 Diet Coke Classic on Saturday (Sept. 7), falling to #4 Minnesota, 3-0, and Ball State by the same score. The Leathernecks are 2-5 on the season after the weekend tournament.

"As disappointing as this weekend was for us, we came out learning a lot about our team and how we function," head coach April Hall said. "It was by no mistake that I scheduled this tough competition. We needed to see volleyball at the highest possible level in order to rebuild ourselves from the ground up. The win-loss record does not define us. What will define us is Monday's practice and our ability to bounce back."

Minnesota 3, Western Illinois 0

Western took on tournament host Minnesota in the first match of the day. The No. 4 ranked Golden Gophers took the first two sets 25-17, 25-17 and the third set 25-19 to win the match and improve to 6-0 on the season.

Samantha Fournier recorded 10 kills in the match to lead the Purple & Gold, while Jordan Jackson and Heather Smith added five each.

Sarah Fetter led Western with 22 assists in the match, while Bailey Kaloupek led the team with 15 digs. 

Ball State 3, Western Illinois 0

In the second match of the day, and third of the weekend, the Leathernecks squared-off against MAC members Ball State. The Cardinals won the match by scores of 25-17, 25-16 and 25-18. 

Ann Miller and Fournier both recorded 10-plus kills, notching 11 and 10, respectively  Fetter once again led the team in assists, recording 24 in the match. The senior remains in fifth place all-time at Western Illinois with 2,365 career assists.

Defensively, Kaloupek again led the way with 15 digs, while Fournier added 10 for the Leathernecks. 

The team will be back in action for its home opener this Tuesday (Sept. 10) against Chicago State. The match is slated to begin at 7 p.m. inside Western Hall.