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Western Illinois University Athletics

Peyton Crosser
WIU Visual Productions Center
3
Winner South Dakota State SDSU 3-20 (2-5)
1
Western Illinois WIU 3-18 (1-5)
Winner
South Dakota State SDSU
3-20 (2-5)
3
Final
1
Western Illinois WIU
3-18 (1-5)
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
South Dakota State SDSU 23 25 25 25 (3)
Western Illinois WIU 25 19 23 19 (1)

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

Volleyball Falls in 4 to South Dakota State

Peyton Crosser's records season-high 21 kills in effort

MACOMB, Ill. – Peyton Crosser tallied a season-high 21 kills Friday (Oct. 16) night as the Leathernecks dropped a 3-1 decision to South Dakota State inside Western Hall. After collecting the opening set, WIU was unable to maintain momentum over the final three frames. The Purple and Gold fall to 3-18 (1-5) on the season while the Jackrabbits improve to 3-20 (2-5).
 
"We came out and won the first set. We have to continue pushing all the way through to get a win," said head coach Kelly Richardson. "We can't expect anyone to hand it over to us and I think we loosened up. We loosened up thinking we were ahead one, and got comfortable, and then didn't push through. We're not in a position where we can do that. We have to push through every single time if we are going to keep progressing forward."
 
Western earned a hard-fought victory in the opening set, taking a 25-23 decision from SDSU. The Leathernecks opened the scoring Friday with a 5-1 run to open an early advantage on the visitors. Abby Skryd and Jordan Jackson paired up for a combination block on the very first point of the match, and Crosser recorded a kill from the outside the very next play. Following a Jackrabbit point, Western was back at it, with Crosser and Lexi Kolschefski tallying kills for the Purple and Gold.
 
The teams would go back and forth until the Leathernecks found themselves trailing 16-14 midway through the set. Western would capitalize on a 3-0 run to bring them back ahead of South Dakota State. Krishna Merriman and Kolschefski teamed up on a block to open the run, Crosser recorded an ace immediately after, and Crosser then connected from the back row on one of her six kills in the opening set.
 
Western would let the slim lead go, as they were on the trailing end of a 23-22 score in the waning moments, but a 3-0 push by the Purple and Gold would give the home team the opening set. Skryd and Kolschefski teamed up for Western's third team block of the set before a pair of Jackrabbit hitting errors gave WIU the 25-23 victory.
 
The Leathernecks found themselves with an advantage through the beginning and middle portions of the second set, as Western was able to build its lead to 13-9 thanks to another 5-1 run. Three different Leathernecks (Jackson, Crosser, and Kolschefski) tallied kills, while Skryd delivered one of Western's six aces from the service line. SDSU was able to respond shortly thereafter, and used a critical 6-0 run to claim the second set, 25-19, and even the score at 1-all.
 
Following the intermission, Western stormed out of gates in the third set as back-to-back aces from Kate Hickey, and a kill from Crosser gave WIU the 3-0 head start. Midway through the set, Western used a 3-0 run highlighted by Crosser and Skryd kills to take a 16-13 lead, but SDSU answered back. The Jackrabbits responded with a 3-0 run of their own to even the score at 16, prompting a WIU timeout. WIU responded once again with yet another 3-0 run to take a 19-16 lead into the final points. Jackson was once again called upon, as her kill gave Western the eventual 23-21 lead, but four-straight points from SDSU gave the Jackrabbits a 25-23 victory and a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
Western used a pair of 4-0 runs in the fourth set to eventually build a 13-11 lead in the fourth and final set, but South Dakota State used a 6-1 run and a 4-0 run late in the set to take home a 25-19 victory.
 
Crosser's 21 kills led the way for the Purple and Gold, while Skryd dished out 46 assists. Kaili Simmons tallied 14 digs, while Hickey and Morgyn Bullock each added 12 digs on the night.
 
Western hits the road for a Sunday, October 18, match at Oral Roberts. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
 
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