Box Score

Western Illinois WIU 6-23, 4-12

South Dakota State SDSU 6-27, 0-16

Western Illinois WIU

6-23, 4-12

Final

Nov. 15, 2014

South Dakota State SDSU

6-27, 0-16

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	4	5	F
Western Illinois WIU	22	17	25	25	15	(3)
South Dakota State SDSU	25	25	13	15	13	(2)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | Saturday, November 15, 2014 | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Send Seniors Out in Style with 5-Set Victory Over South Dakota State

Leathernecks storm back for thrilling five-set victory over Jackrabbits

BROOKINGS, S.D. - The Western Illinois volleyball team concluded its season Saturday night (Nov. 15) in thrilling fashion, as the Leathernecks came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat South Dakota State, 3-2. The victory improves Western's record to 6-23 (4-12) while the Jackrabbits fall to 6-27 (0-16).

"I'm proud of our team's efforts tonight. They could have just walked away and caved in after sets one and two, but they chose to fight for their seniors," said head coach April Hall. "I could talk about the match all night, but it seems fitting to discuss our seniors right now since all four of them had standout performances and amazing careers. This may not have been our senior night, but it feels like a good way to send them off."

For seniors Mallory Gibson, Samantha Fournier, Ann Miller, and Molly Murphy, Saturday night marked the final match in their Leatherneck career. The quartet of seniors ended their careers on a high note, as each played a vital role in the comeback victory.

SDSU jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead and was in position to pick up its first league victory of the season. Coming out of the intermission, Western Illinois came out an inspired group and began the comeback effort. The third set was all Leathernecks, as the Purple and Gold quickly jumped out to a 7-1 lead. Four Leatherneck kills and a pair of aces jump-started the scoring run. The early lead was all that the Leathernecks would need, as they cruised to a 25-13 victory. The set was capped off by a 5-0 run, with Ann Miller collecting the final kill.

The fourth set was a similar story, as Western stormed out of the gate to an 11-2 lead. Murphy got the Leathernecks out to a strong start, as she served the Purple and Gold to a 7-0 lead. The Leathernecks stayed in control of the set the rest of the way and cruised to a 25-15 victory. The decision set up a closely contested fifth and final set. In the final frame, Western jumped out to an early 3-1 lead and led 8-7 as the teams changed sides. Western was leading 14-10 and was in position to complete the comeback, but the Jackrabbits made things interesting. Three-straight points by SDSU cut Western's lead to 14-13, but Ann Miller would finish things off with a kill from the outside.

Gibson, Fournier, Miller, and Murphy all had standout performances in the victory, as each left their mark on the Leatherneck program. Fournier collected her second career triple-double, as she registered 45 assists, 23 digs, and 10 kills. Miller added a team-best 23 kills, while her 1,313 career kills will rank second all-time and first among players in the rally scoring era. Murphy added 20 digs to end her career with 1,202, the sixth-most digs in Leatherneck history. Gibson recorded 10 kills, while hitting at a .320 clip, and recorded a pair of assist blocks.

"Mallory has had a standout career for us as a middle and this year she took on a new role for us as a right side and succeeded beyond measure. She put up big blocking numbers for us and was able to become an offensive threat for us. Mallory is a coach's dream. She's the kid that you ask her to jump and she asks how high. I've loved working with her and getting to know her over the past 3 years. She's made me proud as a coach and more importantly, a person. Her caring attitude and pure grit will take her far in life. I'm so excited to see her end her career on such a high note. I know Mallory will take this determination and grit with her into the "real world" and find much success," said Hall.

"Molly stepped up as our libero her junior season and took the role head on. She was able to reach a milestone of having over 1,000 digs with just two years of being libero for us. She's fought through so much and has been everything I could have hoped for in a libero - I truly wouldn't trade her for any other libero in our conference. I've proudly watched her grow over the years and can say that Molly is a fighter and will take that fight into the rest of her life and succeed beyond her wildest expectations. It is my hope that she will take the world beyond college head on and be as brave and strong as I know she is," added Hall.

"Ann has been a staple for the WIU Volleyball program since her freshman year but took that to another level this year. She has had more than a standout career here and ended her senior year with some great accolades. Ann is more than her numbers, however, she is a captain by definition and leader. She is a fierce competitor on the court and a stand up person off the court. Without a doubt in my mind, I know Ann will be successful with whatever she does. She truly is special and I'm proud to have watched her grow over the past three seasons and be a part of her journey," said Hall.

"Sam has had a career with us that is beyond words. She shined her sophomore year, becoming a terminal hitter for the Leathernecks and developing into a leader that every coach hopes for. Her fierce play and unstoppable attitude defined this program and the direction we want to head in the future. Although her career has been tainted with injuries, Sam has fought harder and pushed herself more than any student-athlete I've ever known. This year, I can only commend her for what she gave up for this team. She gave up reaching a milestone of 1,000 kills and so much more as a hitter in order to be the setter for this team. We needed her, and she stepped up and succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. I'm so proud of her and what she's been able to accomplish in her entire time here," said Hall

"I would go to war with these four any day," noted Hall. "The amount of respect I have for these four goes beyond words and any quote I could ever give. They have made me proud not only as their coach, but as their friend and I hope that they have learned half as much from me as I have from them. This program will not be the same without these four. The bar has been set high and they have built an unbelievably strong foundation for future Leathernecks."