WHO: UT Martin

WHEN: October 9-10

WHERE: Martin, TN (Skyhawk Fieldhouse)

Last Time Out: The Leathernecks competed against conference team SIUE, falling short on Friday but winning on Saturday. On October 3, the Leathernecks fell 2-3 to the Cougars, and won 3-1 on October 4. Keyana Cruse led the team in kills, recording 28 in the two games this weekend. 

National Recognition: Freshman setter Jaleah Bauss placed 35th among the NCAA aces per set rankings and 17th in NCAA service aces. Bauss is ranked among schools like USC, the University of Miami, and Tennessee. 

Hitting 1,000: Keyana Cruse surpassed the 1,000 kill milestone at the Billiken Invitational September 5-6. Cruse has amassed over 1,000 kills in a Leatherneck uniform. Cruse has also reached 1,000 digs.

New Faces: WIU welcomes eight new faces to the 2025 squad. Kiyah Franklin transfers into WIU from Youngstown State. In her four years as a Penguin, Franklin totaled 301 kills and over 75 blocks, playing well in 62 matches. Alysia Perez also transferred into WIU after spending her freshman season at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Head Coach Dale Starr also welcomes six freshmen from five different states. Mount Sterling native Ashlee Markert and Martyna Sowiak both come from Illinois. Jaleah Bauss travels north from Texas. Aubrey Pender joins the Leathernecks from Arkansas. Caroline Clayton travels east from Kansas, and Ella Haines travels south from Wisconsin. 

Returning Stars: Senior Keyana Cruse leads the nine Western Illinois returners. Cruse led the team in points (590), kills (519), sets played (114), matches started (30), and leads all returners in digs with 463 and blocks at 72. In all ten sets played, Cruse led with 37 kills. Elizabeth Ziegler returns to the right side for WIU. The Sandusky, Ohio native appeared in all 30 matches last season, playing in 114 sets. Ziegler posted a career high with 260 kills last year. 

Ohio Valley Polls: Western Illinois was predicted to finish 6th in the preseason polls. This is the highest preseason projection for WIU since joining the Ohio Valley Conference. Last year's OVC regular season champion Southeast Missouri State University sits atop the preseason polls with 194 points, claiming 15 out of the 22 first-place votes. Lindenwood and Tennessee Tech both received first-place votes as well.

Players to Watch: Outside hitters Keyana Cruse and Kennedy Adair both earned All-OVC Preseason Honors. Cruse was named to the All-OVC Preseason team. Junior Kennedy Adair was named as a player to watch for WIU. 

Scouting UT Martin: The Skyhawks enter the 2025 season guided by head coach Jacqueline Torbett, who begins her sixth year in the program. After a solid 2024 campaign that saw UT Martin post a 20–11 overall record and 11–7 mark in conference play, the Skyhawks aim to carry that momentum into the new season.

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