TULSA, Okla. – The Western Illinois women's volleyball team kicked off their weekend on the road Friday (Nov.9) as they took Oral Roberts to five sets (25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 7-15).

Oral Roberts took an early lead to start the match. Western fighting back to take the lead capped off by a kill from Riley Schumacher. Mariah Mitchell led a 6-0 run to extend the lead, putting the Leathernecks in position to take the first set.

The score changed back in fourth to start the second until the Leathernecks took the first definite lead at 16-12. The Golden Eagles quickly worked their way back in to tie the score at 18-18 and again at 23-23. Oral Roberts pushed two points to split the match.

WIU came out strong in the third with an 8-1 lead topped off by an ace from JoJo Kruize. Oral Roberts working their way back in for the remainder of the set, tied the game at 20-20. The Leathernecks were able to fend off the Golden Eagle retaliation, and with a kill from Mariah Mitchell, WIU took the third.

Another close match left both teams fighting to equalize the score throughout the fourth set. Tied for the final time at 23-23, the pendulum swung in favor of Oral Roberts, and the match went into five sets.

With the momentum in their favor, the Golden Eagles led 8-4 at the fifth-set switch. The Leathernecks were unable to find their footing and fell in five.

Cassie Hunt led the team with a career-high 41 assists besting her previous record by 15 assists. Mariah Mitchell with another career-high performance notching 24 kills. Aubrey Putman recorded her third double-double of her career with ten kills and 11 digs.

The Leathernecks will continue their road journey with a trip to Omaha on Monday (Nov. 11) before heading home for the final weekend of the regular season.