MACOMB, Ill – Western Illinois dropped their conference and home opener on Thursday (Sept. 22) to the University of North Dakota. WIU fell to the Fighting Hawks at Macomb High School in four sets (25-16, 17-25, 16-25, 22-25).

SET 1
Set one opened with a back-and-forth affair. Both teams would trade the first nine points. With the score of 7-6 Western Illinois, the Leathernecks would use an 8-0 run to open the match-up, back-to-back kills from Aubrey Putman and Grace Kremer started the run, and some offensive mistakes from the guests helped push it to a 15-6 advantage. UND would try to claw their way back, taking two out of the next three points, but two UND mistakes followed by kills by Brittany Wulf and Elizabeth Ziegler and a Maggie Craker ace would push WIU out in front for good. WIU would take the first set 25-16.

SET 2
A 10-4 run started the second set as the North Dakota jumped out fast. The Fighting Hawks would hold on to that six-point lead throughout most of the set. With the Leathernecks down 23-13, they would go on a run late in set two. A serving error by UND started the run, and a Ziegler kill would push it to two. WIU would force an attack error by UND to make it a 23-17 game. The teams would trade the final points as UND would tie the match a 1 set apiece. 

SET 3
Just like the second set, UND opened on a huge run. The Fighting Hawks led 11-2 before WIU would make their move. Grace Kremer and Putman would combine for five kills. That would bring WIU within 4 (11-7). After a UND point, WIU would get another Putman to kill, and Craker would add a kill herself as WIU would go on a 7-1 run. UND would use a 3-0 run in the middle of the set and a 4-0 run late to gain the separation they needed to take the set 25 -16.

SET 4
Set four was a grind-it-out battle from the start. Both teams would trade points, with neither extending a lead past three points. After playing from behind for the beginning of the set WIU used a Putman kill, Ziegler kills, UND attack error, and a Putman service ace to take their first lead at 12-11. WIU's lead would not last long as UND would use a 3-0 run to pull back in front 15-13. UND would hold off the Leathernecks down the stretch as they would take set four 25-22.

Putman and Ziegler both paced the offensive side of the ball. Putman had 15 kills to go along with Ziegler's ten. Putman also got it done on the defensive side, having 15 digs. Karli Wenzel tied Putman on the night with 15 digs as well. Craker led the way with assists tallying 34. As a team, the Leathernecks had three service aces, five blocks, and a hitting percentage of .164

Western Illinois continues its home stand, as they will take on North Dakota State on Saturday (Sept. 24) at Macomb High School.