BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Western Illinois volleyball team (2-9) dropped a five-set decision to the Butler Bulldogs in the opening match of the 2014 Hoosier Classic Friday (Sept. 19) evening. Senior Ann Miller had a career day, recording a career-best 30 kills, a total that ranks fourth in program history for kills in a match. Her efforts on the court also moved her into eighth place on the all-time kills list. 

"Unfortunately we did not put our best foot forward every single ball," said Leatherneck head coach April Hall. "We beat ourselves that match but I am hopeful that we will learn, continue to grow, and strive for greatness tomorrow. Great job to Ann Miller for another standout performance and Sam Fournier for her smart decisions running our offense."

Senior Mallory Gibson recorded a solo block early in the first set to pull the Leathernecks within two points. The block moved Gibson into sole possession of eighth place in career blocks at Western Illinois. Gibson now has 56 career blocks with the Purple and Gold. From there on, the two teams would trade points until a Samantha Fournier kill would knot things up at 19-all. Western Illinois would not trail the rest of the way in the first set. Ann Miller would record a kill to give Western a 21-19 advantage, a kill that would move Miller into a tie for ninth place on the all-time career kills list. Two points later, Miller would record another kill to take over sole possession of ninth place, surpassing Diane Ellefrtiz (1,033). Peyton Crosser would find a gap in the Butler defense to record a kill and secure a 25-23 first set victory.

Butler would take the second set to tie things up at 1-1 headed to the intermission, but the Leathernecks would come out a spirited bunch in the third set. Western Illinois opened up with an early 4-2 lead thanks to kills from Fournier and Ann Miller. Butler would come back and take the lead and hold onto it until they led 18-15, and then Ann Miller took over. A native of Bettendorf, Iowa, Miller would earn Western Illinois' next six points, with four of them coming during a 5-0 Leatherneck run. Jordan Jackson ended the run with a kill of her own, giving the Leathernecks a 22-21 lead. Things got close at the end of the set, but a Butler hitting error gave Crosser and Melanie Miller a chance to seal things away with a combination block. The block secured a 27-25 set victory, giving Western Illinois a 2-1 lead in the match. 

The Leathernecks couldn't put the Bulldogs away in the fourth set, as Butler claimed a 25-16 decision to force a fifth and final set. The Purple and Gold opened strong, extending their lead to 5-2 off of a Fournier kill. Butler would slowly climb back into the match, and had the lead at 8-6 as the teams exchanged sides. With the Bulldogs leading 11-10, Ann Miller recorded her 30th kill to tie things up at 11. Miller's performance put her in fourth place in the single match kills record book, trailing only Michele Aulig and Betsy Wujek (32) and Sue Orstrom (31) in Leatherneck history. Miller's 30th kill also moved her into sole possession of 8th place in career kills with 1,063, surpassing Cait Egan (1,062). Fournier would record 43 assists, while five different Leathernecks would tally double digit digs. Freshman Kayla Ruff led the defense with 20 digs and was assisted by Molly Murphy (17), Fournier (16), Kaitlynn Novak (14) and Miller (14).

Western Illinois has a pair of matches Saturday (Sept. 20) as the Leathernecks face tournament host Indiana at 11 a.m. (ET) before finishing play against Buffalo at 4 p.m. (ET).