Leathernecks Drop 5-Set Heartbreaker to Eastern Illinois

Western Illinois fights back from 2-0 deficit, falls in five sets

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MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois volleyball team opened play at home Friday evening (Sept. 5), taking on in-state rival Eastern Illinois in the 2014 Hampton Inn Leatherneck Invitational. The Leathernecks rallied from an 0-2 deficit to force a fifth set, but ultimately fell 3-2.

"With all of the changes we made tonight, I thought sets one and two were about finding our rhythm and finding our stride, and I think we did," said head coach April Hall. "The more the sets went on, the more we felt comfortable, and the more we were ready to go. Set three, they were hungry. Sets three and four, I've never seen that fight in them. It was great to seem them rally around Sam and rally around each other, just build each other up and take it to a team and not feel bad about it."

Eastern Illinois opened up the match quickly, using an early 7-point run to open a 8-3 lead. The Panthers cruised the rest of the way to claim a first-set victory, 25-17. Junior Jordan Jackson gave a preview of the night she would have, as she recorded five kills while hitting a perfect 1.000 in the opening frame. On the night, Jackson tallied 14 kills, a career-high for the Annawan, Illinois native.

The second set featured seven ties and three lead changes. An Ann Miller ace, paired with a Peyton Crosser kill gave the Leathernecks a 12-9 advantage midway through the set. EIU would gain the lead shortly after, but things got close at the end of the set. A Miller kill from the set of senior Samantha Fournier, along with a set of Panther hitting errors got the Leathernecks within one point at 21-22. Eastern Illinois would rally to win the final three points and take a 2-0 lead into the intermission.

The Leathernecks stormed out of the gate after the intermission, building an early 10-5 lead thanks to a run in which Western Illinois claimed 6-of-7 consecutive points. Western Illinois maintained their lead throughout much of the set before Eastern Illinois knotted things up at 20-all. The two teams would trade points back and forth in a set that was decided by defense, as each team had a negative hitting percentage. With the Leathernecks facing game point, Crosser connected on a set from Fournier to tie the set at 24-24. The kill contributed to Crosser's team-leading 18 kills on the night, a season-high. With the game tied at 27, junior Kaitlynn Novak recorded an ace to give the Leathernecks match point. A Panther hitting error gave Western Illinois the 29-27 victory in set three.

Senior Mallory Gibson collected a kill early in the fourth to give the Leathernecks a 9-8 advantage, a lead they would not relinquish. Gibson's kill came from Fournier who finished with a career-night. Fournier, a career right-side hitter, made her first ever start as a setter. In her first start as the quarterback of the Leatherneck offense, Fournier dished out 44 assists, besting her previous career-high of four. Fournier's setting led to a team-best .323 hitting percentage, and a 25-18 victory in the fourth set.

"Sam is a great leader. She is a kid that you go to if you need something, and we needed a setter tonight," added Hall. "We needed a setter that was going to create confidence in the team, create leadership, and create an atmosphere that was hungry and determined and gritty. She's a kid that is going to do that and I think she did a great job of doing it tonight."

The rally would fall short, as Eastern Illinois claimed the fifth set, 15-9. In all, Crosser (18 kills), Jackson (14), and Ann Miller (12) paced the offensive attack. Senior Molly Murphy collected a team leading 23 digs, while Fournier (14), freshman Kayla Ruff (12), and Ann Miller (11) each recorded double-figure digs as well. For Ruff, the match marked her first career start at Western Illinois.

The Leathernecks return to action tomorrow for the final day of play in the 2014 Hampton Inn Leatherneck Invitational inside Western Hall. Western Illinois squares off against UTEP at 12 p.m. (CT) and Saint Louis at 7 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Molly Murphy: DS; 5' 5"; Senior; Marist

#4 Kayla Ruff: DS; 5' 3"; Freshman; Pleasant Valley

#6 Ann Miller: OH; 6' 0"; Senior; Bettendorf

#11 Peyton Crosser: MB; 6' 2"; Junior; Ottumwa / Indian Hills CC

#12 Mallory Gibson: MB; 5' 11"; Senior; Riverdale

#15 Jordan Jackson: MB; 6' 0"; Junior; Annawan

#16 Samantha Fournier: RS; 6' 1"; Senior; Moline

Players Mentioned

#3 Molly Murphy
: 5' 5"; Senior; Marist
: DS

#4 Kayla Ruff
: 5' 3"; Freshman; Pleasant Valley
: DS

#6 Ann Miller
: 6' 0"; Senior; Bettendorf
: OH

#11 Peyton Crosser
: 6' 2"; Junior; Ottumwa / Indian Hills CC
: MB

#12 Mallory Gibson
: 5' 11"; Senior; Riverdale
: MB

#15 Jordan Jackson
: 6' 0"; Junior; Annawan
: MB

#16 Samantha Fournier
: 6' 1"; Senior; Moline
: RS