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Western Illinois University Athletics

Volleyball seniors 2021
George Hartmann
3
Winner South Dakota SD 13-6,12-3 Summit League
0
Western Ill. WIU 2-15,2-14 Summit League
Winner
South Dakota SD
13-6,12-3 Summit League
3
Final
0
Western Ill. WIU
2-15,2-14 Summit League
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
South Dakota SD 27 25 25 (3)
Western Ill. WIU 25 23 18 (0)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Celebrate Seniors in Season Finale

A big thank you to our group of four!

MACOMB, Ill. - Mariah Mitchell, Emma Norris, Cassie Hunt, and Abby Knoop wrapped their collegiate volleyball careers inside Western Hall Saturday (March 27). And while the decision didn't fall in Western Illinois' favor, there was plenty of excitement in the 3-0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-18) setback to South Dakota. 

The first two sets combined for 15 ties and eight lead changes and the Leathernecks had the crowd on their feet with nine service aces. 

"It was nice to go out and have a good fight against a good team," said head coach Ben Staupe. "Our seniors all showed up and did a great job leading us on and off the court. We're going to miss them all. Obviously, those are big shoes to fill across the board. They all contributed today. 

"Abby was able to come out and play a position she hasn't played for us the last couple of games and really excelled. Mariah had three blocks. Emma had seven kills. Cassie had 16 assists. It was nice to see the team play for them and with them. You'd love to have the win, but I think they played a competitive, aggressive couple of sets for us." 

The early goings of the first set saw the Coyotes lead 8-2 until an attacking error put Jessie Connell up to serve. She recorded a pair of service aces in a 6-0 run before Norris provided Western its first advantage at 10-9. The set sat deadlocked on six different occasions from there and required extra points to settle things. 

Set two was just as contentious as the first as neither team could separate by more than three points until the Coyotes pieced together five unanswered. They held a 13-8 edge after the stretch, but again WIU roared back to even the set at 17-all. 

The Leathernecks jumped out to a 21-18 lead with Norris behind the line to serve before surrendering a 7-2 run to end the set. 

Mitchell guided the Leathernecks' attack with 10 kills, while Norris and Payton Bowman each added seven. Erika Moore and Aubrey Putman recorded 13 and 10 digs, respectively.

The four seniors finished with admirable careers for the Purple and Gold. Hunt totaled 1,125 assists, while Mitchell produced 536 kills in only three years.

Western wrapped its 2020 season 2-15 overall with a 2-13 mark in Summit League play; the wins occurred in a sweep over North Dakota. 
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