Macomb, IL- The WIU volleyball team defeated SIUE in three sets on Saturday afternoon to complete the sweep of the Cougars. With the win, the Leathernecks improved to 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2007.
The Leathernecks were led offensively by Keyana Cruse, finishing with a match-high 17 kills, while Maggie Craker would finish with a match-high 45 assists. As a team, the Leathernecks had a hitting percentage of .423. Defensively, Karli Wenzel had a match-high 20 digs and the Leathernecks would finish with five blocks as a team.
In set one, there were 7 ties throughout the early part of the set. With the set tied at 13, Keyana Cruse would have a kill followed by a service ace to put the Leathernecks ahead 15-13. Elizabeth Ziegler would follow that with a kill extending the WIU lead at 16-13. Later in the set, back-to-back kills by Julianna Schmidt and Keyana Cruse would be the dagger as the Leathernecks would go on to take the set by a score of 25-18.
In set two, WIU would dominate SIUE the whole set. The Leathernecks jumped out to a 15-4 lead to start the set thanks to several kills from Grace Nichols, Brittany Wulf, Elizabeth Ziegler, and Keyana Cruse. WIU would have 19 kills in the second set, easily winning the set by a score of 25-12.
In set three, SIUE started out with a 6-2 lead early on. The Leathernecks would respond in a big way as Maggie Craker would have a kill followed by back-to-back kills by Keyana Cruse giving the Leathernecks the lead at 9-8. The two teams would trade the next 12 points giving the Cougars a 15-14 lead in the later part of the set. The Leathernecks would once again go on a run to put them up 19-15. That run would be the difference as WIU would go on to sweep SIUE and take the third set by a score of 25-19.
WIU will now have two days off before hosting Lindenwood on Tuesday night. The match is scheduled for 6 PM inside Western Hall.
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