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Western Illinois University Athletics

Jordan Jackson
3
Winner Northern Kentucky NKU 3-5
1
Western Illinois WIU 0-8
Winner
Northern Kentucky NKU
3-5
3
Final
1
Western Illinois WIU
0-8
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Northern Kentucky NKU 23 25 25 25 (3)
Western Illinois WIU 25 21 22 8 (1)

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

Leathernecks Drop 3-1 Decision to Northern Kentucky

Western closes out Evansville Tournament play on Saturday (Sept. 12) against Evansville, Jackson State.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Western Illinois volleyball team took to the road on Friday, September 11, to open play at the Evansville Tournament. Friday's contest featured the Leathernecks taking on the Northern Kentucky Norse. The Purple and Gold opened with a victory in the first set before the Norse closed out the final three sets en route to the 3-1 decision. Western fell to 0-8 on the year with the decision while NKU moved to 3-5
 
"We definitely saw improvement today," said head coach Kelly Richardson. "We have to continue minimizing our own unforced errors. It's hard to recover when we give up that momentum in a match. Our players are learning how to consistently play stronger together every time we step on the court."
 
An energized Leathernecks squad took to the court in the opening set and used a big run to gain the early advantage. Trailing 6-9, Western Illinois ripped off seven consecutive points to take a 13-9 lead midway through the set. Jordan Jackson opened the run with a kill out of the middle, one of two kills she would tally in the run. Sierra Bauder recorded three aces during the run, raising her total on the year to a team-leading nine. Crosser tallied a kill, and Jackson and Melanie Patenaude contributed a combination block to the effort.
 
NKU was able to withstand the run and eventually took an 18-17 lead late in the set, but a quick 3-0 spurt by the Purple and Gold gave Western the lead for good. Bauder and Jackson teamed up for a block that was sandwiched by a pair of Norse errors. With set point on the line, Jordan Jackson sealed the 25-23 victory with a kill down the line.
 
The second set was closely contested, with NKU squeezing out a 25-21 victory. Western used a mini 3-0 run to gain a 11-10 lead midway through the set, highlighted by an ace from Abby Skryd, one of six on the day for Western. As the teams traded points, Western found itself trailing 22-18 late in the set. Bauder brought the Leathernecks within three with a kill of her own. A Norse hitting error made the NKU lead 22-20, forcing a timeout by the Horizon League foe. Northern Kentucky was able to rally and win three of the final four points to even the match at 1-all.
 
The third set had a similar feel to the second set, as it was tight throughout. Northern Kentucky used a 3-0 run to take an 18-14 lead, the first lead of more than two points in the set. Western responded shortly after with a 6-1 run to open up a 21-20 lead over the Norse. The senior duo of Jackson and Crosser opened the run with a block, and Crosser followed with a kill of her own to force a NKU timeout. Crosser would tally another kill later in the run, and Crosser and Bauder would team up for a block to give the Purple and Gold the one point lead at 21-20. The teams would battle down the stretch, with the Norse picking up the 25-22 victory. NKU would finish off the match with a 25-8 victory in set four.

Crosser and Jackson led the way with 14 kills each. Bauder added three aces, Jackson and Krishna Merriman collected four blocks apeice, Skryd dished out 40 assists, and Kaili Simmons picked up 15 digs on the afternoon for the Leathernecks.
 
Western closes out tournament play Saturday (Sept. 12) with a pair of matches. The Leathernecks will face Evansville at 10 a.m. before wrapping up competition with Jackson State at 3:30 p.m.
 
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