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Western Illinois University Athletics

Jackson FP
3
Winner Fort Wayne IPFW 4-14 (1-2)
2
Western Illinois WIU 3-14 (1-2)
Winner
Fort Wayne IPFW
4-14 (1-2)
3
Final
2
Western Illinois WIU
3-14 (1-2)
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Fort Wayne IPFW 24 25 21 26 15 (3)
Western Illinois WIU 26 15 25 24 6 (2)

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

Volleyball Falls in Five to Fort Wayne

Reilly Dunne's season-high 13 kills not enough as Western falls to Mastodons

MACOMB, Ill. – Looking to ride the momentum of Homecoming festivities, the Western Illinois volleyball team took to Brophy Hall Friday (Oct. 2) evening for a Summit League match against Fort Wayne. Western battled for five tough sets, ultimately dropping a 3-2 decision to the Mastodons. WIU moves to 3-14 (1-2) on the year while Fort Wayne improved to 4-14 (1-2) with the victory.
 
The Leathernecks opened up the Homecoming match against the Mastodons with a hard-fought 26-24 victory in the first set. Out of the gate, Western scored four unanswered points to take an early 4-1 lead. Jordan Jackson and Reilly Dunne teamed up for a combination block to highlight the run.
 
From there, the two teams would trade points until Fort Wayne used a 3-0 run to take its first lead of the set at 15-14. Following a Western timeout, a Mastodon hitting error evened the score at 15-all. Western once again found itself in a hole, trailing 20-18 late in the set. Dunne's kill in the middle of two Mastodon hitting errors gave Western the 21-20 lead.
 
It would take extra points to determine the opening set winner, as the Leathernecks couldn't convert on a 24-23 set point opportunity. Jackson gave Western it's second set point opportunity at 25-24, and Abby Skryd and Krishna Merriman's combination block ended the set in favor of Western, 26-24.
 
After dropping the second set by a 25-15 margin, Western rebounded by claiming a pivotal third set, 25-20. Once again, it was the Purple and Gold off to the hot start, as the team opened a 8-4 advantage behind a Dunne kill and a pair of Mastodon errors. A quick 2-0 spurt by the visitors cut Western's lead to 17-15, but an ensuing 6-2 by the Leathernecks put the team ahead 23-17.
 
Peyton Crosser started the run with back-to-back kills, forcing a Fort Wayne timeout. Crosser would add another kill during the run, as would Shiah Sanders, and the run was capped by a combination block by Sanders and Krishna Merriman. Jackson's kill out of the middle capped the set, as Western sat one set away from victory.
 
The Purple and Gold appeared to be in control of the fourth set, as the team built a nine-point advantage after Fort Wayne's hitting error gave the Leathernecks a 17-8 cushion. Fort Wayne was able to battle back to 22-21, before a service error and a Sanders kill gave Western set point at 24-21. The Mastodons rallied for five unanswered points to take the set, 26-24, and force a fifth set. In the deciding set, Western was never able to gain any traction as Fort Wayne claimed a 15-6 victory.
 
Dunne led Western's attack Friday, as her 13 kills marked a career-high. Both Crosser (11 kills, team-high 17 digs), and Abby Skryd (38 assists, 12 digs) recorded double-doubles, while Sanders topped 10 kills as she ended the night with 11. Merriman anchored Western's blocking efforts, as she tallied 9 assist blocks. The nine assist blocks ranks tied for seventh in program history for a single game.
 
Western returns to action this Sunday, October 4, as the Leathernecks welcome IUPUI to Western Hall. The Jaguars, who dropped a 3-1 decision to Oral Roberts Friday evening, enters Sunday's contest with an 11-6 (2-1) record. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
 
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