Cookeville, Tenn. – After an exciting five sets, the Western Illinois women's volleyball team fell to hosts, Tennessee Tech, in the first day of the Golden Eagle Invitational (22-25, 25-22, 26-24, 19-25, 8-15).

The freshman libero, Gabby DePersio, already making a major impact this season had a career-high of 23 digs as well as notching two kills taking aggressive opportunities on out of system balls for a career-first and a career-high. 

Freshman outside hitter, Aubrey Putman, joins in with a career performance of her own with a career-high 10 kills, her first double-double, and a career-high 13 digs for the second time.

WIU found themselves in a hole early in the first set, fighting to come back for a majority of the game. Elle Shult with a consecutive block and kill sequence put the Leathernecks in position to tie the game at 19-19 unable to complete the comeback Western fell in the first.

Turning the tables, Jessie Connell hit the ground running with two aces to start the second set as WIU pulled away with the early lead. The Golden Eagles were able to even the score mid-game before Cassie Hunt put the team in position to take the second set with five assists and an ace in the last 10 points.

With both teams tied going into the third, there was no more than a two-point advantage from either side. Setting up game point, JoJo Kruize and Shult showed the Leatherneck blocking dominance and with a Golden Eagle error WIU won the back and forth battle for the third.

The Leathernecks were on a four-point run when DePersio surprised the TTU defense sending the ball to the far-left corner on the second contact and finding the floor for her first career kill. Too far down in the beginning, WIU dropped the fourth.

Tennessee Tech with momentum heading into the fifth snuck off to another early lead despite offensive efforts from Riley Schumacher, Aubrey Putman, and Mariah Mitchell and fell to Tennessee Tech.

WIU continued their season trend out-blocking and acing TTU 15-13 and 8-6, respectively. Shult leading the blocking efforts with two solo blocks and five assists. While Connell chipped in another three aces to bring her season total to 20.

WIU will return to take on the second day of the Golden Eagle Invitational as they take on Southern Illinois and Middle Tennessee State.