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Western Illinois University Athletics

Cassie Hunt
George Hartmann
2
Evansville UE 0-1
3
Winner Western Illinois WIU 2-2
Evansville UE
0-1
2
Final
3
Western Illinois WIU
2-2
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Evansville UE 25 22 25 18 12 (2)
Western Illinois WIU 20 25 17 25 15 (3)
0
Western Illinois WIU 2-3
3
Winner Southeast Missouri SEMO 3-2
Western Illinois WIU
2-3
0
Final
3
Southeast Missouri SEMO
3-2
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Western Illinois WIU 19 17 21 (0)
Southeast Missouri SEMO 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Western Illinois Wins First Game of Redhawks Invitational

Games Four and Five

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. - Western Illinois women's volleyball began their first of two days in Cape Girardeau, Mo. with an exciting 3-2 comeback over the Evansville Purple Aces for the first time in program history. In their second match of the day, the Leathernecks fell to hosts Southeast Missouri State (3-0).
 
Game Four
 
In a match full of Leatherneck comebacks WIU defeated the Purple Aces in the first match of the Redhawks Invitational in five sets.
 
WIU went on a three-point scoring run to start the match, quickly followed by an Evansville nine-point run  (9-3). The Leathernecks began to dig away at this deficit and were able to put themselves in 16-14 position in the middle of the set. Ultimately, the Leathernecks could not close in on the Purple Ace lead and dropped set one 25-20.
 
The Leathernecks found themselves in a head-to-head scoring battle (11-10) with neither team taking a definite lead until the Purple Aces were able to pull away with a 17-10 lead. Ignited by a service ace by Cassie Hunt, the Leathernecks began to fight back. With Hunt dishing out assists, WIU worked their way within three points of the Purple Ace lead. JoJo Kruize on a three-point run put the Leathernecks within one (21-20).  It was the WIU block by Abby Knoop and Elle Shult that finally tied up the score at 22-22. Western took the next three-point, and the Leathernecks secured the second set (25-22).
 
Going into set three, both teams had one game in their favor, and the back and forth battle was back on. Straight from the start, the score was tied at 6-6. This time the Purple aces were able to pull away at 16, and the Leathernecks could not catch up giving Evansville the advantage going into the fourth (2-1).
 
In a do-or-die situation, the Leathernecks were put in the position to make yet another comeback. This time both teams holding each within two points until 9-9. This time the Leathernecks were able to take the dominate breakaway lead. With Mariah Mitchell, Knoop, Shult, and Kruize on the offense the Leathernecks take the fourth in a deciding 25-18.
 
Heading into set five Leathernecks held the momentum, with a 3-0 lead. Evansville would not go down without a fight as they fought back to gain the advantage to be the first team to five points. The rest of the match saw a continued trade-off between possession of the lead. At 10-10 Steckler and Kruize proved that the Leathernecks deserved the victory by terminating the attack.
 
With a victory in the fifth (15-12) Western defeated the Purple Aces in 5 sets. This is the first victory over the University of Evansville for the first time in WIU program history.
 
Kruize had a career-high 22 kills, Mackenzie Steckler led the team with seven total blocks, and Gabby DePersio led the team with 18 digs. 
 
Game Five
 
Later Friday evening the Leathernecks took on the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks in their home gym. Despite strong offensive efforts from Kruize as well as strong defensive efforts from DePersio the Leathernecks fell in three.
 
Steckler and Shult led the first set on the offense, with four kills (.840) and three kills (1.00) respectively in the first set. The Leathernecks were able to hold onto the Redhawk advances keeping them within three points until Southeast Missouri State was able to pull away to a 25-19 set 1 victory.
 
In set two, Western took the first two points and was able to hang on to a lead until 11-10 when the Redhawks tied up the game 11-11. The Redhawks then went on an 11-2 run, leaving the Leathernecks trailing 22-14. Kruize put away three balls in the last five points of the game, but WIU was not able to make up for the deficit.
 
The Redhawks with the lead going into the third, momentum did its part as Kruize continued to put away balls for Western. Mitchell chipped in with on the offense as well as adding a service ace for the Leatherneck cause. Despite these efforts the Leathernecks dropped set three, falling (3-0) to the Redhawks.

The Leathernecks will return tomorrow morning as they take on the Jackson State Tigers at 11 a.m. for their final game in the Redhawks Invitational. 
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