Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MACOMB, IL- Western Illinois Volleyball battled through two matches on Saturday (Aug. 30) at the Renaissance Coliseum, falling in a five-set loss to UT Arlington in the morning before dropping their afternoon match to Bradley in three sets. The Leathernecks move to 0-3 on their season.
 

WIU vs UT Arlington

The Leathernecks opened their day against UT Arlington in a five-set thriller.

The Mavericks took charge in the first set, pulling ahead with a strong run and holding off WIU 25-17.  In the second set, the Leathernecks responded with Keyana Cruse and Kennedy Adair as WIU jumped out to a 9-5 lead. Adair would end a 8-1 Bradley run as WIU trailed 13-11 halfway through the second set. A 6-2 run from the Mavericks gained the separation they needed as UTA took the second set 25-15.

WIU offense jumped out to an early lead in the third set. Kills from Kiyah Franklin, Hillary Estes, and Elizabeth Ziegler saw the Leathernecks in front 8-3. UTA responded the Leathernecks 8-3 run with 9-4 run as WIU held a slim 15-14 lead. WIU found their senior middle Grace Kremer late in set three as the Leathernecks took set three 25-23.

The Leathernecks used the momentum from set three into set four. Kills from Cruse and Adair gave WIU and early 6-2 lead. A block by Kremer and Ziegler pushed WIU lead out farther at 7-3. Cruse took over in the middle portion of set four with a pair of kill. Adair and Franklin finished off the set as WIU won set four 25-23.

In the decisive fifth set WIU would trail 4-2 before Cruse closed the gap with another kill at 5-3. Adair brought us within a point at 7-6 but a 5-2 run by the Mavericks pushed UTA in front. Adiar found another kill but UTA took the final set 15-11.

WIU vs Bradley

In their second match of the day, Western Illinois finished the CEFCU invitation against the host Bradley.

WIU got off to a quick start in the first set, leading 5-2 after kills from Hillary Estes and Kennedy Adair. Back-to-back kills by Braves pushed their lead to 8-6. The Leathernecks went back to Estes for another kill as WIU clawed their way to a 14-13 lead. Bradley fought off kills from Kiyah Franklin, Keyana Cruse and Elizabeth Ziegler as the Braves took set one 25-20.

The second set stayed close with 10 ties throughout the set. Grace Kremer heated up early with a pair of kills as the Leathernecks trailed 10-9. Kennedy Adair and Franklin teamed up for back-to-back kills as WIU tied the set at 13. Bradley pulled away midway through but Cruse tied the set at 20 and 21 with a pair of kills. The Braves used a 4-2 run to take set two 25-23.

WIU jumped out early in the third set. A pair of kills from Franklin and Ziegler saw WIU take an early 7-4 lead. A 6-3 run by the Braves tied the third set at 12. Another kill by Cruse saw WIU jump back in front 14-13. WIU stayed close but a 6-1 run by Bradley pushed their lead out to 23-17. The Leathernecks stayed poised using a couple of Bradley attack errors to push the deficit within three 24-21 but a final kill by Bradley finished the set 25-2.

Looking Ahead

The Leathernecks will look to bounce back at the SLU tournament, facing Murray State, Austin Peay, and Saint Louis September 5-6. 

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