MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois volleyball battled through another five-set thriller Friday evening but came up just short, falling to UT Martin 3–2 at Skyhawk Fieldhouse. Despite the setback, the Leathernecks posted a strong performance on the road, led by standout graduate outside hitter Keyana Cruse, who recorded a match-high 23 kills.
Set 1
Western Illinois opened the match with energy, taking an early lead behind kills from freshman outside hitter Ashlee Markert and right side senior Elizabeth Ziegler. Cruse delivered clutch points down the stretch, while junior setter Madelyn Norton and freshman setter Jaleah Bauss kept the offense flowing. A service ace by Norton and a final Cruse kill closed the set 25–22 in WIU's favor.
Set 2
The Skyhawks responded in a tightly contested second set. Western fought back from a late deficit with key kills by senior middle blocker Grace Kremer and junior middle blocker Hillary Estes. UT Martin edged ahead after consecutive service aces to even the match 1–1. Cruse again led the offense with timely attacks, while sophomore libero Karlie Lane added two service aces in the frame.
Set 3
UT Martin carried its momentum into the third, capitalizing on Western Illinois' attack errors. Despite strong net play from freshman middle blocker Martyna Sowiak and Ziegler, the Skyhawks used a mid-set run to pull away. Cruse posted several kills to keep WIU within reach, but UTM's efficient hitting closed out the set 25–19.
Set 4
The Leathernecks answered with their best set of the night, hitting .297 as a team. Cruse dominated with six kills, while Sowiak and Kremer combined for multiple blocks. Junior defensive specialist Grace Ulatowski added key digs and an ace, helping WIU extend the match to a decisive fifth set.
Set 5
The final match ended with a back-and-forth battle featuring six ties. Cruse and Markert each notched late kills to keep WIU in striking distance, but UT Martin secured the final two points to edge out the 15–13 victory.
The Leathernecks will return home and compete against the EIU Panthers October 14 at 6 PM.
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