Skip To Main Content

Upcoming Events and Recent Results

Western Illinois University Athletics

WIU Volleyball
1
Western Ill. WIU 2-7,1-0 OVC
3
Winner Arkansas St. ASU 8-2,0-0 Sun Belt
Western Ill. WIU
2-7,1-0 OVC
1
Final
3
Arkansas St. ASU
8-2,0-0 Sun Belt
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Western Ill. WIU 17 25 18 13 (1)
Arkansas St. ASU 25 23 25 25 (3)
2
Western Ill. WIU 2-8,1-0 OVC
3
Winner Missouri St. MOST 6-5,0-0 MVC
Western Ill. WIU
2-8,1-0 OVC
2
Final
3
Missouri St. MOST
6-5,0-0 MVC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Western Ill. WIU 18 25 25 22 12 (2)
Missouri St. MOST 25 20 20 25 15 (3)

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

Leathernecks Drop Both at Bear Invitational

MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois fell in both matches of the Bear Invitational hosted by Missouri State on Friday (Sept. 15). WIU started the morning dropping their match to Arkansas State in four sets before falling in five sets to host Missouri State. The Leathernecks move to 2-8 overall and 

WIU vs Arkansas State

The Leathernecks took on the Red Wolves of Arkansas State to open the Bear Invitational on Friday morning. Western Illinois found themselves in an early hole to start set one after the Red Wolves began the set on a 10-2 run. Annika Black ended the run with a kill, pulling WIU within seven (10-3). Arkansas State would keep the lead at seven or more for the entire set, taking set one 25-17

Set two started with each team going on runs. With the score tied at one, Keyana Cruse's service ace would spark a 2-0 run, putting WIU in front 3-1. Grace Kremer would also lead the charge as an ace, and three attacking errors by ASU resulted in WIU ahead 8-5. The Leathernecks and Red Wolves saw themselves tied at eight, nine, ten, and 11 before Arkansas State found separation at the midway point. Down 18-16, Brittany Wulf would deliver a kill, and then freshman Kaitlyn Wichersheim would have an ace to tie the set at 17. After ASU jumped back in front, kills by Wulf and Maggie Craker would help the Leathernecks come from behind to take a 20-18 lead. Both teams battled down the final stretch of set two as it was deadlocked at 23 apiece. Two ASU attack errors saw WIU take the second set 25-23

The third set was back and forth from the get-go. Both teams fought for separation as neither could pull away. Tied at 11, Keyana Cruse would get a kill to force an Arkansas State timeout. After the timeout, the Red Wolves found their footing as they would end the set on a 13-6 run, taking the third set 25-18

Arkansas State kept the momentum in the final set as they would see their lead get as large as 12. Down 9-3, Julianna Schmidt cut the deficit to five with a cross-court kill. The Red Wolves would stay in control for the final set, winning 25-13. 

Keyana Cruse and Brittany Wulf paced the Leathernecks offense with 12 kills each. Karli Wenzel led the way with 11 digs, and Maggie Craker dished out 26 assists. Four different Leathernecks contributed solo blocks, with the team having ten total blocks in the match.

WIU vs Missouri State

Missouri State jumped out in front early in set one. The Bears would hold a 9-3 lead before Julianna Schmidt and Brittany Wulf went back-to-back in kills, cutting the deficit to five. WIU would see the Bears use multiple 2-0 runs to find themselves down 23-15. After an attack error by MSU, Maggie Craker, Grace Ulatowski, and Karli Wenzel would all have kills to cut into the Bears' lead (23-18). Missouri State kept the Leathernecks at 18 points as they would claim the final two, taking set one 25-18

The second set was all Western Illinois. Kennedy Bauer's kill would break an early 1-1 tie. After the kill, the Leathernecks rattled off three straight points, pulling ahead 5-1. WIU would keep their four-point advantage till the midway point. Ahead 10-7, the Leathernecks used the arms of Keyana Cruse and Brittany Wulf for three straight points, putting WIU ahead 13-7. The Bears would cut it back to three at 17-14, forcing WIU to use a timeout. After the break, Julianna Schmidt and Cruse would help Western Illinois gain separation with multiple kills. Bauer would have ended the set as she started it with a kill, giving WIU a 25-20 set victory.

Set three saw Missouri State back in front early. The Bears would lead the first set until WIU would tie it at 9-9 on a bad set. With a kill, Grace Kremer gave WIU their first lead at 10-9. Tied at 15, Kaitlyn Wickersheim and Brittany Wulf would dominate the service line as the two on them led a 7-1 run, putting WIU in front 22-16. Both teams would trade the final seven-point as WIU claimed set three 25-20

Just like the third set, Missouri State started fast. The Bears saw themselves with a 7-3 lead before Brittany Wulf ended the run with a kill. Down 8-5, Karli Wenzel used two service aces, helping Western Illinois on a 6-0 run. Both teams would stay knotted up through the teens as the score was tied at 21-21. MSU found a spark late as a 4-1 run would help the Bears take the fourth set 25-22.

Western Illinois found themselves in a hole to start set five. Down 5-0, Keyana Cruse would put the Leathernecks on the board with a kill. The Bears would keep the Leathernecks' deficit at four until Kennedy Bauer's kill sparked a 3-0 run, cutting WIU's deficit to one (8-7). That would be the closest WIU got as the Bears grew their lead back to three and took the final set 15-12.

Keyana Cruse led the Leathernecks for the second straight match in kills, posting 19 kills. Brittany Wulf was right behind her with 17 kills. Keyana was second on the team in digs with 21, helping her to another double-double. Karli Wenzel brought it 35 digs, and Maggie Craker dished out a career-high 56 assists. WIU totaled 13 team blocks, with Julianna Schmidt having two solo. The Leathernecks had three service aces as a team.
Print Friendly Version