MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois put together several strong stretches on both sides of the ball Friday evening inside Western Hall, but Little Rock found enough rhythm offensively to earn a 3-1 win. The Leathernecks showed balanced scoring, efficient blocking, and consistent defensive pressure throughout the four-set match.

Set 1
Little Rock jumped out to an early lead behind a steady offensive attack, building an 18-7 advantage before the Leathernecks began to find momentum. Keyana Cruse came alive late in the set, sparking a 6-1 Western run with three kills, while freshman Elizabeth Ziegler added a pair of late points to close the gap. Despite the push, the Trojans held on to take the opener, 25-19.

Set 2
The second frame proved to be a tightly contested battle featuring several lead changes. Cruse and Kennedy Adair kept the Leathernecks in rhythm early, combining for timely kills, while Western's defense forced multiple Trojan miscues to stay within striking distance. The Leathernecks pulled within 20-21 late in the set before Little Rock answered with back-to-back kills from Crismeyli Rodriguez to close out a 25-21 win and take a two-set lead.

Set 3
Western Illinois responded with one of its best stretches of the night, hitting .206 as a team while holding Little Rock to a .143 clip. Cruse once again led the charge, while Hillary Estes and Adair contributed key points during a 10-4 run midway through the frame. Freshman Madelyn Norton added a spark off the bench with four kills, and Grace Kremer sealed the set with a kill to finish a 25-21 Leatherneck victory.

Set 4
The final set saw Little Rock start strong, racing ahead 10-4 before the Leathernecks mounted a comeback. Ziegler's late run of kills, coupled with steady play from Cruse and Karlie Lane in the back row, helped Western even the frame at 22-22. The Trojans, however, closed with three straight points to secure the 25-22 set and the match.

By the Numbers
Cruse led Western Illinois with a team-high 19 kills and added 27 digs, while Adair tallied six kills and two blocks. Ziegler posted 12 kills on .310 hitting, and libero Lane anchored the back line with 15 digs. As a team, WIU recorded eight blocks and hit .189 on the night.

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