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Western Illinois University Athletics

Team Celebration
0
Chicago State CSU 1-2
3
Winner Western Illinois WIU 2-0
Chicago State CSU
1-2
0
Final
3
Western Illinois WIU
2-0
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Chicago State CSU 24 21 24 (0)
Western Illinois WIU 26 25 26 (3)
3
Winner Evansville UE 3-0
2
Western Illinois WIU 2-1
Winner
Evansville UE
3-0
3
Final
2
Western Illinois WIU
2-1
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Evansville UE 25 14 25 22 15 (3)
Western Illinois WIU 20 25 17 25 13 (2)

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

Western Illinois Finishes 2-1 at Hampton Inn Leatherneck Invitational

WIU picked up a victory against Chicago State and fell to Evansville on the second day.

PHOTO GALLERY 

MACOMB- Ill.- The Fighting Leatherneck volleyball team finished 1-1 on Saturday, beating Chicago State in straight sets (26-24, 25-21, 26-24) and falling to Evansville in five sets (20-25, 25-14, 17-25, 25-22, 13-15).
 
Head Coach Kelly Richardson was impressed with the toughness the team showed the entire weekend, but especially Saturday.
 
"I think that today and this tournament as a whole has been a very exciting time for our team. It has been a long time coming seeing things come together. We have a group of kids that have really bought into the culture we are trying to create here: staying positive, fighting for every point and never giving up," said Richardson. "They showed that here today. I know it was three sets, but it was a hard fought three sets. There were a lot of touches and a lot of movement that those kids did today and they fought all the way down to the wire. That is the kind of mentality that we've been looking for. They came out and showed that this weekend and I could not be more proud of this team."
 
Game 1:
 
In the first set, the Leathernecks fell behind 6-2 but were able to put together to keep it close throughout the set. Down by two in the middle of the set, the Purple and Gold put together eight straight points including kills from Emma Norris and Emilee Dechant, both with two a piece. The Leathernecks were up by three points, 23-20, when the Cougars made a run of their own. The Leathernecks were able to end the run and win the set 26-24.
 
The second set was no different from the first, in that both teams went on runs of their own. Each team was able to put together three points in a row, but the Leathernecks were able to come out on top. Shalyn Greenhaw recorded five kills in the set, while Claire Grove added 10 digs. The Leathernecks won the set 25-21.
 
In the final set of the match, Western started in a 0-4 deficit and eventually found themselves down 9-4. The Purple and Gold then put together eight straight points, headlined by two Mackenzie Steckler kills. The Leathernecks won the final six out of the last seven points, which included three Norris kills, winning the match 26-24. Norris finished the game with a team high 10 kills.
 
Game 2:
 
The Leathernecks jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first set before the Purple Aces were able to capitalize on six Mildrelis Rodriquez kills and take the set 25-20. In the second set, Norris was able capture eight of her 31, which put the ball in position for kills by Greenhaw and Dechant, both with three a piece in the set. The Leathernecks finished the set on a 6-0 run which included two Norris kills and a Greenhaw kill. The Purple and Gold captured the set 25-14 and tied the match at one set a piece.

In the third set, the Purple Aces jumped out 6-0 and eventually made it 17-9 before finished the set on top 25-17. Kills by Aleezah Washington and Shiah Sanders gave the Leathernecks life, but they were not able to quite recover.
 
The Leathernecks bounced back in fourth set after Shaela Gray recorded a pair of kills in the set along with seven Grove digs. The set was back and forth for its entirety, but the Leathernecks capitalized on back-to-back attack errors committed by the Purple Aces.
 
Evansville jumped out to a 4-0, but Western battled back to tie the set at 4-4 due to a pair of kills and two errors by Evansville. The Purple Aces found momentum in the later part of the set and were able to capture the match.
 
Grove and Norris each recorded 31 digs in the match, while Norris also recorded 19 kills. Norris, a freshman, and Grove, new to her position both impressed Richardson in the tournament.
 
"Emma and Claire mean so much to our program. We cannot get those swings up at the net without the digs first. We talk all the time about the importance of the first ball touch, protecting that ball, and making sure it is where it needs to be," said Richardson. "They did a really good job of putting it where we could get a good attack. I am really proud of them on the back line for paying attention to what we were telling them and really executing the game plan."

GAME ONE: Evansville 3 Manhattan 0 
The Evansville Purple Aces claimed their second win—the first on Day 2—over Manhattan at the Hampton Inn Leatherneck Invitational.

Evansville was able to defeat the Jaspers 25-7 in the first set, 25-17 in the second and 25-23 in the third to complete the match sweep. Rachel Tam led the way for the Purple Aces with a double-double of a match-high 16 kills and 13 digs. 
 
 2017 Hampton Inn Leatherneck Invitational All-Tournament Team
 
Cathy Schreiber- MVP, Evansville
Cassie Brooks, Evansville
Rocio Fortuny, Evansville
Emma Norris, Western Illinois
Mackenzie Steckler, Western Illinois
Alyssa Rehrer, Manhattan


 
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