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Western Illinois University Athletics

WIU Volleyball
Rachael Keating
2
Western Ill. WIU 0-6,0-0 OVC
3
Winner Milwaukee MKE 5-4,0-0 Horizon
Western Ill. WIU
0-6,0-0 OVC
2
Final
3
Milwaukee MKE
5-4,0-0 Horizon
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Western Ill. WIU 25 18 18 27 10 (2)
Milwaukee MKE 22 25 25 25 15 (3)

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

Cruse, Wulf Shine on First Day of Cougar Classic

MACOMB, IL – The Western Illinois volleyball team fell in their opening match of the Cougar Classic. The Leatherneck took the first and fourth set before falling in five sets to the Milwaukee Panthers. WIU falls to 0-6 overall on the season.

SET 1
The first set was back and forth till the end. After a 3-3 start, Kennedy Bauer and Keyana Cruse teamed up for back-to-back kills, giving WIU an early 5-3 lead. The Panthers would tie the match at 6-6 before a Maggie Craker kill started a 4-1 run by the Leathernecks. Keyana Cruse jumped back in the kill column with back-to-back kills to force a UWM timeout. Late in the first set, Milwaukee used a 6-1 run to pull in front 21-20. Western Illinois responded with a 4-0 run. Kennedy Bauer started it and had Cruse follow with two more kills. The run was finished off by a block by Julianna Schmidt and Maggie Craker. Cruse ended her nine-kill set with the winner, helping WIU take the set 25-22.

SET 2
Western Illinois started on the front foot in set two. Three Milwaukee attack errors and two Maggie Craker service aces gave WIU an early 5-0 lead. The Leathernecks grew their lead with back-to-back kills by Elizabeth Ziegler and Grace Kramer. Up 10-3, WIU would see Milwaukee go on an 11-0 run to pull in front 14-10. Western Illinois would be unable to cut the deficit closer than two the rest of the set, as the Panthers took set two 25-18.

SET 3
The Leathernecks jumped out in front 2-0 in set three after a block by Elizabeth Ziegler and Grace Kremer and a Brittany Wulf kill. Milwaukee responded with a 5-0 run to pull in front 5-2. Down 7-4, WIU used a service error, a kill, an ace, and a block to pull back in front 8-7. In a match full of runs, Milwaukee used another 4-1 run to jump back in front 11-9. WIU would tie the set at 11 before a 7-3 run would help Milwaukee pull in ahead. The Panthers would take set three 25-18.

SET 4
As the Leathernecks did in previous sets, a quick start would see them in front early. Multiple kills by Keyana Cruse sandwiched around a Brittany Wulf kill gave WIU an early 3-0 lead. Cruse would get it done from the service line with a service ace pushing Western Illinois lead to four. Milwaukee always had a response as they tied the match at four and six before the Leathernecks found separation. Wulf's three kills and a service ace sparked a 7-1 run for the Leathernecks, giving them a 13-7 lead. WIU would use Cruse and Wulf's offensive power more in the fourth set as their multiple kills helped the Leathernecks to a 21-16 advantage. Milwaukee would use a late 6-1 run to pull in front 24-23. A Panther attack error would tie the match at 24. Down 25-24, WIU used a Brittany Wulf kill and block by Elizabeth Ziegler and another Wulf kill to take set four 27-25.

SET 5
Both teams started the deceive fifth set, trading the first four points. Tied at 4-4, Milwaukee used a quick 3-0 run to separate themselves from WIU. The Leathernecks would use multiple attack errors from Milwaukee to cut the deficit to one, causing the Panthers to call a timeout. The Panthers would not look back out of the timeout as they took the final set 15-10.

Keyana Cruse and Brittany Wulf led the WIU offensive attack on Friday afternoon. Cruse would end day one with 24 kills. Wulf was right behind with 18 kills of her own. Maggie Craker tied a career-high in assists with 45, and Karli Wenzel had 25 digs to lead the team. Western Illinois, as a team, had six total blocks and hit .194 as a team.

The Leathernecks are back in action on Saturday (Sept. 9) against Idaho at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in their OVC opener against SIUE.
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