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Kaili_Simmons
3
Winner Western Illinois WIU 4-14 (1-2)
1
Omaha OMAHA 3-14 (0-3)
Winner
Western Illinois WIU
4-14 (1-2)
3
Final
1
Omaha OMAHA
3-14 (0-3)
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Western Illinois WIU 25 25 19 25 (3)
Omaha OMAHA 22 22 25 17 (1)

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

Western Illinois Earns 3-1 Road Victory Over Omaha

Kaili Simmons compiled 37 digs to tie for fourth all-time in program history for digs in a single match

OMAHA, Neb. – The Fighting Leatherneck volleyball team topped Omaha by a score of 3-1 on Tuesday evening (Sept. 27) in Summit League action. With the victory, Western improves to 4-14 on the year (1-2 Summit) while the Mavericks fall to 3-14 (0-3 Summit).
 
"Tonight was a big step in the right direction for our program. Coming out and getting this win on the road is big for us," said head coach Kelly Richardson. "We did a good job on controlling the momentum and following our game plan going into this match."
 
Senior defensive specialist Kaili Simmons had a big night on the floor, as she compiled 37 digs to tie for fourth all-time in program history for digs in a single match. Her new career-high tops her previous of 31 set last season (Oct. 20, 2015), also at Omaha. The last Leatherneck to garner 37 digs was Bridget Murphy on Oct. 2, 2011 against South Dakota.
 
"Kaili had a great night tonight. Every time we get on the floor we see her grow as a libero who can defensively take over a match," added Richardson. "That's exactly what you want to see out of a senior leader. Play like that helps elevate everyone else."
 
Western took control early on in set one as a 5-0 run put them ahead 9-5. Omaha would respond with a 4-0 run of their own to tie the match at 11-11. Three straight Leatherneck points, highlighted by a kill from Claire Grove, put them back ahead 16-12. The sides would exchange points for the remainder of the set. Down 23-20, Omaha would score two straight points to make things close. Grove and Abby Skryd then hammered down consecutive kills to give Western a 25-22 opening set victory.
 
A kill by Lexi Kolschefski helped the Leathernecks get ahead 8-4 in the second set. Western continued to build their lead to 14-10 following two kills from Shiah Sanders and another from Kolschefski. Omaha then scored four quick points to tie the match at 14-all. Both sides then traded points until Western broke away following a kill by Riley Schumacher and a service ace from Shalyn Greenhaw to lead 21-18. The Mavericks would not back down as they cut their deficit to one, 22-21. The Leathernecks ended things with a 3-1 run highlighted by a kill from Grove, an ace from Kate Hickey and the set-winning kill by Kolschefski to take set two, 25-22.
 
Set three remained close throughout the opening portion. With the match tied at 12-12, Omaha scored four straight points to take their largest lead of the evening, 15-12. WIU then stormed back with four straight points to tie the match up at 17-17. However, the Mavs were able to string together five straight points to move ahead 22-17. The Leathernecks weren't able to come back and dropped set three 25-19.
 
A 5-0 run that was highlighted by kills from Emilee Dechant, Grove, Sanders and an ace from Shalyn Greenhaw put Western ahead 11-5 early on in set four. Omaha was able to cut their deficit to two points following a 3-0 spurt. The Leathernecks were able to stay in control and score four consecutive points to extend their lead to 17-11. Western had all the momentum from then on out, as late kills from Grove and Sanders gave WIU a 25-17 set four victory.
 
Grove led the team with a new career-high of 12 kills, followed by Kolschefski with 11 (season-high). Hickey contributed with a season-best four service aces while Skryd dished out 38 assists. Defensively, Dechant led the team with four blocks followed by Greenhaw who had three (all solo). In addition to Simmons' team-leading 37 digs, Greenhaw had 19 and Hickey had a new season-high of 13.
 
The Purple and Gold look to continue their winning ways this Friday (Sept. 30) at IUPUI. First serve in Indianapolis is set for 5 p.m.
 
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