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Western Illinois University Athletics

Peyton Crosser
WIU Visual Productions Center
3
Winner Western Illinois VIS 3-12
2
South Dakota USD 6-8
Winner
Western Illinois VIS
3-12
3
Final
2
South Dakota USD
6-8
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Western Illinois VIS 32 29 10 13 15 (3)
South Dakota USD 30 27 25 25 11 (2)

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

Volleyball Defeats South Dakota, 3-2, to Open Summit League Play

Peyton Crosser's 21 kills paces Western in five-set thriller

VERMILLION, S.D. – The Western Illinois volleyball team opened Summit League play on a high note Friday evening (Sept. 25), as the Leathernecks defeated South Dakota in a five sets. Western, under first-year head coach Kelly Richardson, stormed out to a 2-0 lead in the match before claiming the fifth and deciding set. Western's victory gives it a 1-0 mark in league play and 3-12 overall. South Dakota falls to 6-8 overall and 0-1 in league action.
 
"We saw a lot of grit out of our team this evening," said coach Richardson. "The first two sets our defense did an amazing job dialing in and putting the ball on the mark. We still have to keep that consistency through the third and fourth sets, but we did a great job bringing it back in the fifth set. Peyton (Crosser) really stepped up and led our offense, we saw a great showing from Kaili (Simmons), and this was a great match for Abby Skryd. I'm proud of this team tonight. This was a big league win, on the road, and our young team needs to see that kind of success."
 
It was a marathon of a first set, as Western outlasted the host Coyotes, 32-30, to take the opening set. It didn't look good for the Purple and Gold early on, as South Dakota took control of the set early on. After spotting the home team an early advantage, a Peyton Crosser kill and a Coyote error evened the score at 4-all. From there, South Dakota took control of the set, leading by a 15-10 margin midway through the action. Western remained calm and battled back into the set thanks to a 4-0 run to pull within one at 17-16. The Western run forced a timeout by South Dakota as the Leathernecks had found a second wind.
 
Following a WIU timeout, Western used three straight points to even the match at 22-all. Reilly Dunne started the run with a kill from the outside, Morgyn Bullock stepped up and delivered an ace, and USD committed a hitting error to even things up. After trading a pair of points, Crosser's kill from the outside gave the Purple and Gold a 24-23 lead, its first of the set. The Coyotes had five set points down the stretch, but each time the Leathernecks responded to keep things alive. Dunne gave Western its second set point, as her kill gave WIU the 31-30 lead, and Jordan Jackson put the Leathernecks up 1-0 in the match as she connected with Skryd out of the middle.
 
Extra points were once again needed in the second set, as Western Illinois edged out a 29-27 victory. It was the Leatherneck defense the kept the team in the set again, as South Dakota led from the start and owned a 19-14 in the closing moments of the set. Western climbed within two at 22-20, forcing a USD timeout. The rally was quickly closed by South Dakota, as they went back on top 23-20 following the timeout. Western would respond, however, using a 4-0 run to take their first lead of the second set at 24-23. Crosser opened the run with kill, Dunne added a pair of kills as well, and Kaili Simmons dished up an ace to put Western one point away from a 2-0 lead. Western was in the driver's seat as the set went to extras, as WIU had five different set points in the match. The fifth set point was the last one Western needed, as Crosser's solo block put an exclamation point on the 29-27 victory.
 
Western's bid for the sweep was unsuccessful, as South Dakota claimed sets three and four, forcing a fifth and final set inside the Coyote Den.
 
The final set was close from the start, as neither team led by more than two points until Western was able to pull away late. Dunne's kill gave Western an 8-7 lead as the teams switched sides. Holding onto a slim 12-11 advantage, Western Illinois claimed the final three points en route to the 15-11 victory. Skryd opened the scoring with a kill from the setter spot, and a ball handling error by the Coyotes put Western one point away from victory. Looking to make a statement, Western Illinois looked to Crosser, and her solo block on Sydney Dimke finished off the Leathernecks victory.
 
Crosser's stellar senior campaign continued, as she ended with a season-high 21 kills on a career-high 59 attacks. She capped off the performance with a double-double as she added 15 digs throughout the match. Simmons anchored a back line that dug up a season-high 78 passes, as she led the way with 21 digs. Skryd had her best performance as a Leatherneck, pacing the WIU attack to the tune of 53 assists. Dunne also had her best performance to date, as her 16 kills marked a season-high.
 
Western looks to remain undefeated in Summit League play on Saturday, September 26, as the Leathernecks take on North Dakota State in Fargo, North Dakota. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
 
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