MACOMB, IL- The Western Illinois Volleyball team fell in three close sets against the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Friday at the Renaissance Coliseum.

SET 1
The first set was close, with Quinnipiac leading 10-9 before Kiyah Franklin's kill evened the score at 10. Elizabeth Ziegler tied the score again at 17-17, and Kennedy Adair's kill moments later gave a 19-18 lead. Cruse delivered two kills to push the Leathernecks into the lead at 23-21, but a 4-0 run by the Bobcats helped them take the first set 25-23.

SET 2
The Leathernecks carried their energy into the second set, gaining an early 7-2 lead with kills from Adair, Cruse, Franklin, and Estes. The Bobcats fought back, tying the score 13-13, and from there, neither team led by more than two points. The Leathernecks tied the set at 22-22 with kills from Cruse and Kremer. Quinnipiac took the second set 27-25.

SET 3
The Leathernecks jumped ahead halfway through the set, with a pair of kills from Cruse and Ziegler giving WIU a 14-10 advantage. Quinnipiac tied the set at 21-21. The Leathernecks fought tough in the final stretch of set three with kills from Cruse and Franklin, but Quinnipiac took set three 26-24.

Keyana Cruse led the Leatherneck offense with a match-high 15 kills and a .371 hitting percentage. Kennedy Adair added seven kills to go along with her 13 digs.

The Leathernecks hit .233 as a team and limited Quinnipiac to a .212 percentage. The Leathernecks also finished with 12 blocks. Hillary Estes led with four, with Grace Kremer, Elizabeth Ziegler, and Kiyah Franklin each recording two. Defensively, the Leathernecks collected a total of 55 digs. Grace Ulatowski led the way with 18, while Kennedy Adair followed closely with 13.

WIU will continue on with the Bradley Tournament by facing the UT Arlington Lady Mavericks and the Bradley Braves on Saturday (August 30).