MACOMB, ILL.- With emotion running high in Western Hall on Saturday morning, the Western Illinois volleyball team (5-9) was edged by McNeese (8-6) in the Leathernecks' fifth 5-set match of the season. After falling in the first and second set, Western captured the next two before falling in the final set.
 
"I was proud of the team for fighting back and regaining the momentum in the second set," said head coach Kelly Richardson. That is what made the rest of the match possible. They did a really good job of showing us that energy and fire that we have been asking them to bring back. They did a really good job responding. I think that Melanie Patenaude did a really good job coming in and aggressively doing what we needed her to. I was also happy to see our middle game pick back up. We kept Emilee Dechant and Mackenzie Steckler really involved and they did a good job of executing plays."
 
The Leathernecks did not get the start they were looking for in the first as the Cowgirls took the set, 25-17. After the score was 2-1 Western, McNeese won the next three and the Purple and Gold could not find momentum. After a Mackenzie Steckler kill that pulled the Leathernecks to within four, 13-9, McNeese again rattled off three points in a row. The Cowgirls finished the set with a Katelyn Elliot kill.
 
Set two looked like the Leathernecks could not combat the early momentum from the Cowgirls. Down 16-5, Western rallied and strung together 12 out of the next 14 points to pull ahead 23-22. During the impressive run, Emilee Dechant recorded three kills, Steckler and Melanie Patenaude each logged a kill and Jaime Johnson recorded a pair of points. The Leathernecks were not able to capitalize on the momentum in the later part of the set, and fell 26-24.
 
Down 2-0, and a heartbreaking second set, the Leathernecks put together a third set that started on a 7-1 run. Shiah Sanders recorded kill that helped Western's fast start. The Cowgirls put together an ensuing five straight points to tie the match at 8 apiece, but the Purple and Gold continued the momentum from earlier and eventually won the set 25-23.
 
The fourth set was one the Leathernecks capitalized on as they started on a 6-3 run and did not look back. WIU remained in control of the set for its entirety and put together four consecutive points to widen the margin to 13-7. Patenaude logged seven kills in the set that guided the 25-20 Leatherneck victory.
 
In the decisive fifth set, the Leathernecks rallied from being down 5-1, to make it 7-6 in favor of WIU.  McNeese recovered and won the set, 15-13.
 
"This weekend was good for us going into conference play. It was a good refocus, and a good 'way to look at the things we need to work on. We have to tighten some of this stuff up,''' said Richardson. "A lot of times you need that going into the part of the season that we are about to play."
 
INSIDE THE MATCH:
- Melanie Patenaude recorded season highs in both kills, with 16, and digs, with 13. She also logged her first double-double of the season.
- Shalyn Greenhaw and Claire Grove each recorded 16 digs to lead the team. Grove is second in The Summit League with 236 digs.
- Also in second in The Summit League is Mackenzie Steckler, who is hitting at a .332 clip and hit a .435 today.
- Jaime Johnson, Makenzie Bouse and Shalyn Green each recorded two service aces.
 
The Leathernecks look to bounce back in their Summit League opener against South Dakota on the road on Sept. 22. The team then travels to Oral Roberts on Sept. 24 before returning home on Sept 29 against Omaha.
 
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
 
Sydney Bronner-MVP, Valparaiso
Brittany Anderson, Valparaiso
Taylor Graboski, Valparaiso
Paige Aspinwall, Drake
Kyla Inderski, Drake
Angela McGownd, McNeese