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Western Illinois University Athletics

MalloryGibsonFP
WIU Visual Productions Center
3
Winner Oral Roberts ORU 10-11 (4-4)
2
Western Illinois WIU 4-17 (2-6)
Winner
Oral Roberts ORU
10-11 (4-4)
3
Final
2
Western Illinois WIU
4-17 (2-6)
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Oral Roberts ORU 25 25 22 15 15 (3)
Western Illinois WIU 22 21 25 25 13 (2)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Comeback Effort Falls Short as Leathernecks Lose in 5

Ann Miller and Molly Murphy pace Leathernecks in losing effort

MACOMB, Ill. – A comeback effort from the Western Illinois volleyball team fell short Sunday afternoon, dropping a five set decision to Oral Roberts. The loss drops the Leathernecks to 4-17 overall and 2-6 in Summit League play, while the Golden Eagles improve to 10-11 and 4-4 in conference action.
 
After dropping the first two sets against the Golden Eagles, the Purple and Gold came out swinging to claim the third set by a 25-22 score. Leading by a slim, 12-11 margin, Western Illinois ripped off a 5-1 run to pull away from Oral Roberts. ORU wouldn't go down without a fight, using a 3-0 run to get within one at 23-22. The Leathernecks would close things out with a kill from Peyton Crosser and an Oral Roberts hitting error.

"Between sets two and three I sat the team down and told them how capable they were and how talented they are" said head coach April Hall. "It was good see the change in mentality at the end of the match."

Momentum continued in the direction of Western Illinois, as they dominated the fourth set. An early 5-0 run, with contributions coming from Samantha Fournier and Mallory Gibson, gave the Leathernecks a 10-4 lead. A handful of 3-0 scoring runs would eventually build the Purple and Gold lead up to 24-12. In the end, Western would force a fifth set with a 25-15 victory.
 
In the fifth and final set, the Leathernecks' bid for a comeback victory fell short as Oral Roberts edged out a 15-13 decision to claim the match. Trailing 7-5, Ann Miller tallied a kill to pull the Purple and Gold within one. Molly Murphy then stepped back and served an ace to tie the score at 7-all. One of Jordan Jackson's five kills in the match gave the Leathernecks their first lead of the set at 9-8. Ann Miller delivered a kill from the back row and Samantha Fournier recorded an ace to knot the score up at 13. The team's push for a victory would fall short, as Oral Roberts won the final two points.
 
Molly Murphy, who moved into 10th place on the all-time digs list led the defense again on Saturday, picking up a team high 16 digs. Murphy has now collected 1,093 digs in her career, and is 75 digs away from moving into ninth place (Kim Phillips, 1,067). Ann Miller (17 kills) and Peyton Crosser (14 kills) led the way offensively, while Fournier picked up 40 assists and 2 aces.
 
Western Illinois gets the week off before traveling to Fort Wayne on Sunday (Oct. 26). First serve between the Leathernecks and Mastodons is set for 1 p.m. (CT).
 
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