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Team Cele
2
Manhattan MAN 0-2
3
Winner Western Illinois WIU 1-0
Manhattan MAN
0-2
2
Final
3
Western Illinois WIU
1-0
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Manhattan MAN 18 25 17 25 10 (2)
Western Illinois WIU 25 19 25 22 15 (3)

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

Volleyball Secures Victory in Season Opener

Freshman Emma Norris led the way with 19 kills and 16 digs

MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois volleyball team won a barn burner in its opening match of the season against Manhattan (0-2) on Friday night in Western Hall. It took five sets to capture the victory, but the Leathernecks came away victorious in their first match of the 2017 Hampton Inn Leatherneck Invitational.
 
Freshman Emma Norris led the way for the Purple and Gold as she recorded her first double-double with a team leading 19 kills and 16 digs. Transfer Jaime Johnson also led Western as she logged 49 assists along with seven digs.
 
Head Coach Kelly Richardson was all smiles following the home opener, as she was pleased with the resilience she saw from her players.
 
"I think that our kids did a really good job of staying in the match all the way through and not allowing the runs in the second and the fourth set. Those did not completely throw the girls off. I think that what we were looking for is for our kids to be able to stay calm and stay technical whenever we come into the home stretch," said Richardson. "We have been talking a lot about playing our best and being the most technical when we get tired. I think that did a really good job of applying that piece that we have been talking about in preseason into the match. We look at the things we need to work on and we will correct those things as soon as we start playing tomorrow afternoon."
 
The first set was back and forth between the two teams, with the Jaspers jumping out early. Western came from behind thanks to three attacking errors by the Jaspers and a service ace from Johnson, scoring four straight points, putting the Leathernecks on top by a score of 17-6. Western was able to capture the first set 25-18, ending on a six point run.
 
The second set was highlighted by a 7-2 run by Manhattan in the middle in part to kills from Kenza Hall and Mary Donnelly. The Jaspers went on to win the set 25-19.
 
The third set went back to the way of the Leathernecks, a set that was won 25-17. Norris was about to record the Leathernecks last three points, all kills assisted by Johnson. Emilee Dechant made an impact in the middle as she recorded to impacted kills in the middle of the set.
 
The game established its pendulum feel in the fourth set as it went to the Jaspers, 25-22. The Leathernecks gave the Jaspers a scare, after they pulled within two, making it 22-24 before falling.
 
A game that is only played to 15, the fifth set's intensity filled Western Hall as the students yelled their support for the team. After the Jaspers scored the first point, the Purple and Gold were able to capture the next two by the arms of Shiah Sanders and Norris. Manhattan took four of the five, a run that put many in Western Hall on the edge of their seat. The Leathernecks responded and won the last nine of their 10 points to secure the season opener.
 
Richardson was excited to see fans in the seats for the first match of the season, and really believed it made a difference.
 
"It is always a great opportunity to win your home opener. I have to give crazy props to our fans and to our student section because they did an amazing job and they elevated the energy in the gym and it was a really fun atmosphere to be in," said Richardson.
 
The Leathernecks take on Chicago State at 2 p.m. and Evansville at 7 p.m. on Saturday (Aug. 25) to wrap up the 2017 Hampton Inn Leatherneck Invitational.
 

 
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