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Western Illinois University Athletics

Mackenzie Steckler
1
Western Illinois WIU 4-12, 1-2 SL
3
Winner North Dakota UND 9-8, 1-2 SL
Western Illinois WIU
4-12, 1-2 SL
1
Final
3
North Dakota UND
9-8, 1-2 SL
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Western Illinois WIU 21 17 25 22 (1)
North Dakota UND 25 25 14 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Steckler’s Errorless Match Not Enough

Strong individual performances cannot be pieced together against North Dakota (3-1).

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - With strong individual performances across the board, Western Illinois volleyball was unable to piece together a victory in Grand Forks Friday (Oct. 4) night against North Dakota (21-25, 17-25, 25-14, 22-25). 

"North Dakota came out and played flawless making only one hitting error in the first two sets," said Coach Ben Staupe. "We were able to come in at set three and battle but,  ultimately our unforced errors didn't allow us to complete the comeback."

Mackenzie Steckler made no offensive errors in the entire match with her 11 kills on 18 attempts resulting in a .611 hitting percentage. Leading the team JoJo Kruize contributed 19 kills, Gabby DePersio had 20 digs, and Jessie Connell had 28 assists.

The Hawks took an early lead in the first set as Western worked to tie the score at multiple points always keeping North Dakota within two. The score reached its last even point at 12-12 before North Dakota was able to go on a large run snatching the first.

Coming out strong in the second set with two Leatherneck kills from Steckler and Connell, WIU stuck with the Hawks yet again this time taking the lead away from them twice. Despite Steckler's offensive efforts, the Hawks were able to go on another run putting the Leathernecks in a hole they could not come back from and the Hawks were up two going into the third.

With a slow start to the third set, Mitchell was able to tie the score at 10 with a kill out of the hands of Connell. Closely followed by a 11-1 run that would eventually secure the set for the Leathernecks. WIU finished the set with force with a block from Elle Shult and Riley Schumacher and a 25-14 win to send the game into four.
 
A strong start for Western, taking an early fourth set lead as Kruize led the effort with six kills within the first 15 points of the set. WIU gave up its lead to another Hawk run that they were unable to combat and the Leathernecks fell in four in Grand Forks.

Western Illinois will head to Fargo, N.D. where they will take on North Dakota State Sunday (Oct. 11) and return home the following weekend for their first Summit League competition of 2019 in Western Hall.
 
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