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Western Illinois University Athletics

Team
3
Winner Purdue Fort Wayne Pur-FW 13-10,7-2 Summit League
2
Western Ill. WIU 5-17,2-7 Summit League
Winner
Purdue Fort Wayne Pur-FW
13-10,7-2 Summit League
3
Final
2
Western Ill. WIU
5-17,2-7 Summit League
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Purdue Fort Wayne Pur-FW 24 25 25 20 15 (3)
Western Ill. WIU 26 18 21 25 10 (2)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Western Fights For Five

Down 2-1 Leathernecks win the fourth to force a fifth set from Purdue Fort Wayne.

MACOMB, Ill. – Western Illinois volleyball battled with number three in the Summit League, Purdue Fort Wayne, tonight in Western Hall forcing five sets (26-24, 18-25, 21-25, 25-20, 10-15).
 
"I am proud of the way that the team fought the entire five sets and continued to play to win," said head coach Ben Staupe. "We came up short in the end due to a couple of execution errors both offensively and defensively. I am also happy to see that we were able to turn it around since the last time that we faced Purdue Fort Wayne."
 
Two Leathernecks notched double-doubles in the five-set match Aubrey Putman with career-high 14 kills and 10 digs and Cassie Hunt with 22 assists and 11 digs. Just shy, Mackenzie Steckler got an impressive 11 blocks in addition to her nine kills.
 
The Leathernecks were off to an early lead on home court as Mariah Mitchell notched two kills in a row to kick off the night. With help from freshmen, Elle Shult and Putman WIU was able to hang on to this lead for the beginning of the first set. As the Mastodons found their offensive footing Western fell two-points when coach Ben Staupe called a timeout to aid the attack. Fighting to stay with the Mastodons Western tied the game three times late in the set before finally taking the lead at set point, 25-24. With a kill from Mitchell, the Leathernecks were able to secure the first set.
 
Mitchell still warm from her set winning kill found the floor again for WIU's first earned point of the second set. Putman and Steckler claimed an early Leatherneck lead. With the score tied up again at nines, the Mastodons went on a large scoring spree and WIU pushed to get out of an eight-point hole. Serving her first service ace of her career Erika Moore aided in the efforts but, the Leathernecks ultimately fell short and dropped set two.
 
Starting down in the third Mitchell found the floor to tie the score at 5-5. The Mastodons slowly took a dominant lead as the Leathernecks worked to keep them from gaining to much ground. Following a kill from Mitchell WIU forced a Purdue Fort Wayne timeout late in the set but ran out of time to finish the comeback dropping the third.
 
Down 2-1 as WIU went into the fourth Mitchell earned a kill to set the tone for set four. Steckler stepped in with three blocks two of which were assisted by Mitchell and the Leathernecks had another early lead.  Steckler rotating out of the front row served an ace to extend the WIU lead. Steckler returning to the front line, the blocking duo Mitchell and Steckler stopped the ball yet again and the Leathernecks forced the first Purdue Fort Wayne timeout of the set. With three kills Madeline Dieter cemented the set four victory for the Leathernecks after sustaining the lead throughout the entire set.
 
Down early in the fifth, Gabby DePersio finds the floor sending the third ball over rejoining the Leatherneck offense. With the match tied at fours, the Mastodons pulled away. Another block from Steckler this time assisted by Dieter and a kill from Mitchell Western was able to force the final Purdue Fort Wayne timeout. Unable to finish the comeback Western fell in five.
 
The Leathernecks will be back in Western Hall on Sunday (Oct. 27) as they take on the South Dakota State Jackrabbits for their Halloween match. Fans, wear your best costume to compete in the costume contest.
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