MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois fell in their final non-conference season match to Chicago State on Tuesday night. The Leathernecks came out hot early before falling in straight sets. WIU moves to 6-13 overall on the season.
Set 1
Western Illinois started blistering hot in set one. Annika Black began with a kill, sparking an opening 8-3 run. Kennedy Bauer capped off the opening run with a kill, forcing an early Chicago State timeout. Out of the break, Chicago State went on a 7-2 run, tying the match at 10. Grace Kremer put WIU back in front with her first kill of the night, giving Western Illinois the one-point lead 11-10. Kennedy Adair followed up Kremer with a kill of her own before the Cougars would take control of set one. A Cougar 7-1 run in the middle of the first set saw WIU call a timeout as Chicago State had increased their lead to 17-13. The Cougars increased their lead to five out of the break at 19-14. A block from Julianna Schmidt and Bauer was followed by a Bauer kill, which saw WIU close the deficit 20-17, but Chicago State held on to set one 25-21.
Set 2
A service ace by Maggie Craker and a kill by Grace Ulatowski saw WIU hold an early 3-2 lead. Chicago State pulled ahead 4-3 and did not give up the rest of the set. WIU kept it close early in set two. Grace Nichols would have a kill, bringing WIU within two at 9-7. A pair of 3-0 runs and a 4-0 run by the Cougars was the difference maker in the second set as Chicago State took the middle set 25-16.
Set 3
Four ties within the first four points saw the third set start neck and neck. With the score 4-4, Chicago State used another 7-2 run to pull ahead 11-6. The Leathernecks did not back down as they sparked their own 3-0 run with a kill from Adair and a service ace from Craker. The Cougars extended their lead to five midway through the third set and held it steady until 20-15, forcing a WIU timeout. The Cougars would allow two points off errors out of the break before a 5-0 run would end the set 25-17.
Western Illinois saw 13 players touch the court in the final non-conference match. Freshmen Kennedy Adair and Grace Ulatowski led the Leathernecks with four kills apiece. Adair also led WIU in digs with seven. WIU would out-block the Cougars five to four.
WIU returns to Western Hall this weekend, welcoming Southern Indiana on Friday and Saturday.