Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

INDIANAPOLIS - Day two of the Hampton Inn Invitational on Saturday (Sept. 4) involved Western Illinois volleyball exemplifying what it truly means to "leave it all out on the floor."

After falling to the event's host, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), in five sets (11-25, 18-25, 25-19, 25-19, 15-12), the Leathernecks were forced to make a quick turnaround for a tournament closer against Chattanooga. The Mocs ended victorious (18-25, 25-23, 25-10, 21-25, 9-15), but the admirable effort shown by a non-fully loaded WIU roster was noteworthy.

"I don't think our staff could have asked anything more from our players today." said WIU head volleyball coach Ben Staupe. "That was some of the toughest we played this season and took in the right direction. The fact that we put up 85 digs in the Chattanooga match indicates our defense is improving. I was proud of the leadership shown by our returners and how the newcomers fell right in line." 
 

Match One

IUPUI 3, WIU 2

The Jaguars started out the gate hot with a 7-1 lead in set one. Kalynn Davis was the first Leatherneck to slam a pair of kills, and WIU's group of underclassmen stepped in to contribute across the roster. Going on a small spurt to score five times in seven tries, Western continued its fight. IUPUI finished out the set on a 4-0 run and won 25-11.

Set two saw Western step onto the floor with a renewed focus as the team sparked a 5-1 start. An Ashley Poland service ace and kill by Emma Norris made the score rest at 10-6, as the Leathernecks kept its slight lead at an even level by the possession. Poland delivered a kill to put her squad ahead 13-9, but IUPUI soon found a way to tie it all, 15-15. A few attacking errors on both sides occurred, leading to a 25-18 decision by the Jaguars.

Traded blows opened the third set before Western found a nice flow to go up 10-6. Davis, Hailey Pollock, and Aubrey Putman played vital roles in the team's attacking threat. A 6-1 spurt by IUPUI cut the lead down to a smaller margin, but WIU continued to seize ahead on another stretch of balanced play. Norris leaped for a kill to put the Leathernecks up 20-16, and Putman helped finish the rest in a 25-19 victory.

Mirroring the second set, WIU started hot in the fourth. Poland placed two service aces, and Davis spiked a kill to give the team an 8-2 advantage. Runs by the opponents were then traded, with Norris providing scoring opportunities for Western. Staggering play continued, with Western narrowly out in front, 19-17. Norris stayed in a rhythm, along with Putman and Kennedy Davis, as a final 6-2 push led to another 25-19 win.

Having caused the contest to go five sets, the focus in Western was evident. Norris gave the Leathernecks a 9-6 lead, but IUPUI tied the score twice before going up 12-10 after three successful attempts. WIU scored on back-to-back possessions due to IUPUI errors. Nonetheless, the vigorous match went to the Jaguars, 15-12 in the fifth period.

Norris fell just short of a double-double, posting ten kills and nine digs. Putman added 11 kills and eight digs. Poland's three service aces was a season-high. Pollock had four kills and assisted on four blocks. Five Leathernecks ended with eight or more digs, as Erika Moore led the way with 16. Western tied with IUPUI in total blocks (7).
 

Match Two

Chattanooga 3, WIU 2

Set one started with a fast tempo, as Western leaped out 6-3. However, Chattanooga branched a 16-10 lead on a 10-1 boost, while the WIU hitters worked to stay in it. Kennedy Davis, Putman, and Pollock all gave WIU aggressive points, along with Jessie Connell's two service aces. Chattanooga needed just enough to grab a 25-18 win in the first round.

The second period saw five tied scores early on as the Davis twins continued to showcase valuable play. A kill by Norris had WIU trailing 15-14, and another small Western run evened things at 18-18. Putman and Kennedy Davis notched consecutive kills to take the lead, 20-18, and Chattanooga subsequently called for a timeout. It became a nail-biter down the stretch but, with the Davis sisters leading the way, Western was able to secure set two, 25-23.

WIU did well in keeping its poise during set three. After a slower start compared to the first two periods, the team climbed back to take an 11-7 lead. All cylinders began to click as a handful of Leathernecks chipped in during an 11-0 run that ended as a 25-10 takedown. 

Chattanooga wasted no time in set four, marking an 8-1 push from the jump. Attacks from Norris, Pollock, and Kalynn Davis helped Western begin rolling a bit while still down 12-5. Costly errors by the Mocs, along with key hits, helped WIU stay nearby on the scoreboard. Ultimately, plenty of kills by Chattanooga acted as a difference-maker in the team, keeping match play alive with a 25-21 set four victory.

An early 5-1 start helped Chattanooga get ahead in the fifth, and the Mocs would not look back. The Davis twins and Putman again worked to steady Western's fight, but the team lost in five sets (15-9) for the second time on Saturday afternoon.
 

Several players set single-match career-highs during the closer:

- Kalynn Davis in kills (14).

- Kennedy Davis in service aces (four) and tied her mark in blocks (7).

- Jessie Connell in assists (41) and digs (16). She reached her fifth career double-double.

- Karli Wenzel in digs (19).
 

Kennedy Davis was named to the Holiday Inn Invitational All-Tournament Team -- her second all-tournament honor in as many weeks.

The Colonel Challenge, hosted by Eastern Kentucky, is up next for Western (9/10-11).