BROOKINGS, S.D. - The Western Illinois volleyball team stopped a six-match skid against South Dakota State on Saturday evening (Nov. 4). The Jackrabbits struck first as they won set one, but the Leathernecks won the last three to win the match, 3-1 (22-25, 25-15, 25-15, 25-15).

"We talked a lot going into this match about focusing on the serve and pass. I think we did a really good job serving aggressively and adjusted well to protecting our first contact and getting the ball into our setters hands," said head coach Kelly Richardson. "Our middles did great establishing themselves, which opened up a lot of seams for our pins to get big kills. I am extremely proud of our energy, fight and finish tonight."
 
The Jackrabbits jumped out to quick 7-3 and 12-6 leads, respectively, in set one, but Western closed the gap to cut it within three at 18-15. The Leathernecks rattled off five straight points to go ahead 21-20 thanks to kills by Melanie Patenaude and Shalyn Greenhaw. However, South Dakota State was able to rebound and win the set.
 
The Leatherencks came out strong in the second set. Kills by Mackenzie Steckler and Emilee Dechant pushed the Western lead to 7-4, and the Leathernecks did not look back. The Purple and Gold put together seven straight points to extend the lead to 19-10. An attacking error by South Dakota State sealed the set for the Leathernecks.
 
The third and fourth sets were not much different from the second set for the Leathernecks, as Western rolled past South Dakota State to pick up their second conference win, along with sweeping the season series against South Dakota State.
 
Western strung together five points in a row to propel them to a 25-15 victory in the third set. The Leathernecks put together nine of the last 11 points to close out the set to take a 2-1 set lead.
 
The fourth set was all Western, as WIU won the match with the victory. A kill by Shiah Sanders put the Leathernecks up 15-7 and the team did not look back. Western won the last three points to capture the match.
 
Patenaude led the Leathernecks with 11 kills. Greenhaw recorded 10, as did Steckler. Jaime Johnson logged 39 assists in the four-set match. Greenhaw and Patenaude each notched double-doubles, with Greenhaw recording 20 digs and Patenaude registering 13.
 
The Leathernecks look to win back-to-back matches when they host Fort Wayne on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. inside Western Hall.