Box Score
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Western Illinois volleyball team opened the 2014 season Friday night at the Active Ankle Challenge, hosted by Ball State. The Leathernecks took on the tournament hosts in their first match of the season, dropping a 3-0 decision to the Cardinals.

Making her collegiate debut, true freshman Courtney Joyce paced the Leathernecks from the setter position, dishing out 20 assists. Joyce distributed the kills evenly, as junior Peyton Crosser paced the team with six kills, while senior Ann Miller and junior Jordan Jackson each collected five kills. Senior Samantha Fournier added four kills of her own.,

"I want to congratulate Ball State on the win tonight. The first match of the season is always a game of errors, and unfortunately we lost the battle," said Western Illinois head coach April Hall. "The first set showed our nervousness and our inability to control the ball on our side of the court. We let a great ball control team determine the set, and the outcome, throwing us out of our tempo and system completely."

The opening set saw the Leathernecks jump out to a 4-1 advantage behind a kill from Crosser, who was making her Western Illinois debut after transferring from Indian Hills CC, and an ace by Jackson. The Cardinals then went on a run to open a 14-6 lead before Fournier collected back-to-back kills to end the push. The Purple and Gold cut the lead to five at 17-12 after a Miller kill and a Ball State hitting error. That is as close at the Leathernecks would get in the opening set, as they fell by a final of 25-15.

The second set was neck and neck from start to finish as neither team led by more than two points throughout the entire set. The set featured 18 ties and eight lead changes, with Jackson and Miller each collecting three kills a piece for Western Illinois. Miller's third kill of the set gave Western a 23-22 advantage, but Ball State closed out the set with three straight points to take the second by a 25-23 final.

"In the second set we bounced back, but with seven service errors, we couldn't win. We fell apart in the third set due to lack of game plan execution," added Hall.

Ball State closed out the match in the third set behind a 25-14 decision. Crosser collected three of her team-high six kills in the final set. Senior Molly Murphy and sophomore Sarah Sikula shared the majority of digs Friday night, as Murphy recorded 11 digs while Sikula added 10 of her own.

"Although tonight was disappointing, I believe in this team. I believe in who we are and I know we didn't show that ability tonight. Our ability to bounce back is crucial for us tomorrow as we face two more great teams," said Hall.

Western Illinois returns to the court tomorrow as they wrap-up play in the Active Ankle Challenge. The Leathernecks will face Northern Colorado at 12:30 p.m. (CT) and will conclude play against Eastern Illinois at 4:30 p.m.