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Western Illinois University Athletics

Reilly Dunne
3
Winner Drake DRAKE 3-0
0
Western Illinois WIU 0-2
Winner
Drake DRAKE
3-0
3
Final
0
Western Illinois WIU
0-2
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Drake DRAKE 25 25 25 (3)
Western Illinois WIU 17 22 16 (0)
3
Winner DePaul DEPAUL 2-1
1
Western Illinois WIU 0-3
Winner
DePaul DEPAUL
2-1
3
Final
1
Western Illinois WIU
0-3
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
DePaul DEPAUL 25 25 20 25 (3)
Western Illinois WIU 15 20 25 17 (1)

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

Volleyball Drops a Pair to Finish Leatherneck Invitational

Kaili Simmons named to the all-tournament team

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois volleyball team wrapped up its first weekend of competition Saturday (Aug. 29) evening, as the team took to the court for a pair of matches in the 2015 Hampton Inn Leatherneck Invitational. After opening the day with a contest against Drake, Western closed out the tournament against DePaul. Junior Kaili Simmons was named to the All-Tournament Team as the Leathernecks dropped a pair of matches to move to 0-3 on the season.

"Obviously you want to come out with wins and want to see that end product. For us right now, it is continuing to see the girls work together, being able put those things that we have been working on for three weeks together," said head coach Kelly Richardson. "The reality of it is that some of these girls have only been on campus for three weeks. Being able to see them starting to mold and put that together is what we need to see right now. Tonight was very encouraging for us as we look at the rest of preseason play."

In the nightcap, Western squared off against the Blue Demons of DePaul. DePaul was able to build an early lead in the opening set and cruised to an opening 25-15 victory over the tournament hosts. The second set looked like it would be all Blue Demons as they opened up a 20-14 lead. Western would respond with a 6-2 run to cut the lead to 22-20 late in the set. Krishna Merriman opened the run with a kill off the assist of Abby Skryd. Shiah Sanders and a DePaul hitting error would give Western its next two points. The Leathernecks then ripped off three consecutive points capped by a Peyton Crosser block and a Simmons ace. A DePaul timeout cooled off the run and DePaul claimed the second set, 25-20.

A revitalized bunch came out of the intermission and claimed its first set victory of the season. The Purple and Gold jumped out of the gate and opened the set on an 8-4 run to force a DePaul timeout. Sierra Bauder and Merriman teamed up for a block before Crosser's kill forced the visiting timeout. The Leathernecks would open the lead to as many as seven in the set, as another kill by Crosser made it 17-10 in favor of the home team. After a small run by DePaul, Western was able to close out the set with a 25-20 victory.

"It was nice to see the team put it all together, piece by piece, and that's what we have been talking about," added Richardson. "To see them be excited about it, and see that they are capable of winning. That was a huge step for our program tonight."

Western's momentum couldn't be sustained as DePaul was able to close out the fourth set, and the match, with a 25-17 victory. Crosser paced all players with 15 kills in the match, while Skryd's 38 assists tied the match-high. Simmons, a team captain, claimed all-tournament honors after recording 19 digs and three sets in Friday's match.

Earlier in the day, Western played host to the Drake Bulldogs. The Leathernecks started out with an early 3-2 advantage in the first set thanks to a kill from Peyton Crosser followed by a service ace from Abby Skryd, one of her three aces in the match. Drake began to pull away in the middle portion of the set, and looked like it would cruise to the first set victory, but Western battled back. Trailing 20-12, Western went on a 4-0 to force a Bulldog timeout. Reilly Dunne kicked the run into gear with a kill from the outside, and Crosser followed with a kill of her own. It was then time for the freshmen to shine, as consecutive kills from Shiah Sanders and Sierra Bauder pulled the Purple and Gold within four. The run couldn't be sustained, however, and Drake would close out the first set with a 25-17 victory.

Neither team was able to gain much momentum to open the second set, but eventually Drake was able to open up a 15-10 advantage. Once again, Western was able to pull of a 4-0 run to put itself right back into the set. Jordan Jackson opened the run with a kill out of the middle. Krishna Merriman followed with a kill of her own and Kaili Simmons kept the run alive with an ace off of the service line. Dunne's kill capped the run and put Western one point back of the Bulldogs. From there on out Western and Drake would alternate the next 17 points, with the Leathernecks unable to convert on consecutive points and even the match. Drake was able to string together two-straight points to end the set with a 25-22 victory. The third and final set also went in the way of Drake, as the Bulldogs were able to close things out with a 25-16 victory.

Crosser led the attack with 12 kills, while Dunne added 10 kills at a .318 hitting percentage. Dunne recorded her first double-double of the year as she added 11 digs from the back row to lead all Leathernecks. Skryd led the match with 32 assists.

Western continues nonconference action next Friday and Saturday, Sept. 4-5, as the team travels to Lawrence, Kansas for the Kansas Invitational. Kansas, Kansas City, and Duke are on the slate over two days of competition, with Western opening play at 11:30 a.m. on Friday against Kansas. 

 
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