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Western Illinois University Athletics

Peyton Crosser
WIU Visual Productions Center
3
Winner Western Illinois WIU 2-9
2
Drake DRAKE 7-6
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
2-9
3
Final
2
Drake DRAKE
7-6
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Western Illinois WIU 25 16 25 12 15 (3)
Drake DRAKE 23 25 19 25 13 (2)

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

Leathernecks Knock Off Drake in Five-Set Thriller

Leathernecks pick up second consecutive victory with 3-2 decision over Bulldogs

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Western Illinois volleyball team, fresh off its first victory of the season its last time out, was looking to make it two in a row as it faced Drake in a midweek battle on Tuesday, September 15. It took five sets, but the Leathernecks were able to knock off the Bulldogs inside the Knapp Center. Western, who avenged a loss to Drake from earlier in the season in the process, moves to 2-9 with the victory, while Drake falls to 7-6 on the year.
 
"I was really proud of our teams resilience this evening. Especially after the fourth set they did a great job of getting back on track, and finishing the match," said head coach Kelly Richardson. "We still need to work on our consistency, but it continues to get better every time we step on the court. What was really great to see was our team's ability to stay aggressive in big moments. We didn't shy away and played to win. This was a great victory for Western Illinois Volleyball."

The Leathernecks and Bulldogs split the opening two sets of the match with Western taking the first set by a 25-23 final. After spotting Drake the first two points of the match, Western ripped off three straight points behind two Lexi Kolschefski kills and a Shiah Sanders kill. The run gave Western a one-point lead, a lead that the Leathernecks would not relinquish the remainder of the set. With the Purple and Gold leading by a single point at 13-12, Western claimed five of the next six points to open a five-point lead. Melanie Patenaude recorded a pair of kills and Jordan Jackson added a kill of her own to help put Western firmly in control of the set.
 
The Bulldogs responded with three consecutive points, forcing a WIU timeout, but the Leathernecks held strong. Western and Drake would trade points down the stretch, with a combination block by Jackson and Abby Skryd sealing Western's victory in the opening set.
 
After falling by a final score of 25-16 in the second set, Western regained its first-set form en route to a 25-19 victory in the third set. With Drake holding a 3-2 lead early in the set, the Leathernecks went on an 8-1 run in what turned out to be the turning point in the match. Western tallied a pair of blocks during the run, with combination blocks coming from Kolschefski/Sanders and Jackson/Sanders. Kolschefski and Crosser each added a kill while Patenaude tallied two during the key run.
 
Midway through the set, Drake used a 4-1 run to get back into the set, but once again, it was the Leathernecks who stood tall and rallied. Following the Bulldog run, Western used a 4-0 run to separate the two squads. Kolschefski and Sanders each had a kill and teamed up for a block, Abby Skryd served up an ace. The lead allowed Western to take the third set.
 
After dropping the fourth set, 25-12, it came down to a fifth and final set to determine the winner. Trailing 5-4 midway through the final set, Western used a 5-0 run to take a 9-5 lead. Kate Hickey tallied an ace and Jackson recorded back-to-back kills to give WIU the four-point cushion. Following a pair of Bulldog points, Crosser took matters into her own hands as she recorded kills on three consecutive plays to put the Leathernecks three points away from victory at 12-7. Drake responded and eventually got within a point at 13-12, but kills from Kolschefski and Sanders sent Western home a winner, 15-13.
 
Crosser led the way as she tallied a double-double with 13 kills and 23 digs, both team highs. Kolschefski added 12 kills while Skryd dished out 42 assists on the night. Kaili Simmons (16 digs) and Hickey (11) each stood tall on the back line of the WIU defense.

Western returns to action for its final regular season tournament of the year this Friday and Saturday (Sept. 18-19) as the Leathernecks head to Terre Haute, Indiana, for the Indiana State Tournament.
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