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WIU volleyball
3
Winner Western Ill. WIU 15-9,9-4 OVC
0
Little Rock LR 15-12,10-4 OVC
Winner
Western Ill. WIU
15-9,9-4 OVC
3
Final
0
Little Rock LR
15-12,10-4 OVC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Western Ill. WIU 25 25 25 (3)
Little Rock LR 23 13 21 (0)

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

Western Illinois Inks First Winning Season Since 2005 in Dominant Fashion

Little Rock, Ark. – Western Illinois volleyball inks their first winning season since 2005 in dominant fashion, sweeping the Little Rock Trojans. In an anticipated rematch of two top-four teams in the Ohio Valley Conference, WIU jumped out early and never looked back as they rolled to a 3-0 victory.

Western Illinois found the hot hand of Keyana Cruse early in Saturday's matchup. Cruse would have the first three points for WIU as they opened up a 3-1 lead in the first set. WIU kept the run rolling as a kill by Brittany Wulf, and back-to-back blocks saw WIU jump in front 7-2. Little Rock put together a run, closing the gap midway through at 11-9 before WIU returned to Cruse with a pair of service aces. The Trojans hung around, tying the set at 19 a piece, but Cruse would answer the call for WIU with three kills in a row as WIU won the first set 25-23.

Western Illinois took all the momentum early in set two. Jumping out in front 6-2 as Grace Ulatowski, Grace Nichols, Cruse, and Wulf all teamed up for kills. Little Rock cut the deficit to two (7-5), but that is as close as they would get as WIU rolled. Kills by Nichols, Cruse, and Wulf highlighted the middle portion of the set. A service ace and a pair of kills by Elizabeth Ziegler highlighted the latter half as the Leathernecks took the second set 25-13.

Back-and-forth action was the name of the third set, as the score was tied 9 times before both teams were tied at 10-10. The back and forth did not stop there, as the set was tied three more times before WIU gained separation. Ziegler's kill and a Karlie Lane service ace sent WIU into the media timeout up 15-13. Wulf added another kill to her stat line out of the break as WIU increased their lead by three. The lead stayed at three until Cruse stepped back to the service line. Back-to-back aces pushed WIU up five (22-17) and forced a Trojan timeout. Little Rock chipped back into the set as WIU called a timeout up 23-21, but back-to-back kills by Wulf and Cruse ended the match.

Keyana Cruse notched another double-double with 23 kills and 25 digs. The senior hit at a .377% and contributed four service aces. Brittany Wulf also found double digits with 12 kills, hitting over .300. Maggie Craker dished out 47 assists. Karli Wenzel led the way with 23 digs.

WIU continues its three-game road trip at Lindenwood on Tuesday, November 5th. The first serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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