MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois volleyball fought in front of the home crowd on Friday evening, but Valparaiso handed the Leathernecks a 3-0 loss inside Western Hall. The defeat moves WIU to 3-9 on the season, while Valpo improves to 8-4.

Set One
The Leathernecks came out swinging behind kills from Kiyah Franklin and Kennedy Adair, trading points with Valparaiso to a 7-7 tie. Western Illinois then surged ahead with a block from Grace Kremer and back-to-back kills by Keyana Cruse, sparking an 11-8 lead that brought the crowd to its feet.

Valpo answered with a five-point run fueled by tough serving, forcing the Leathernecks to play from behind. WIU clawed back with a kill from Franklin and an ace from Madelyn Norton, closing the gap to 19-17. However, the Beacons' steady offense closed the set, despite a late swing from Adair. Valpo took the opener, 25-20.

Set Two
Western Illinois carried momentum early in the second frame. A kill by Elizabeth Ziegler followed by an Adair strike gave the Leathernecks a 3-0 lead. Cruse added a pair of kills on the outside, while Franklin remained efficient through the middle, hitting .444 for the match. Setter Jaleah Bauss kept the offense balanced, dishing out 14 assists overall.

Valpo responded midway through the set with a six-point stretch that turned a narrow Leatherneck advantage into a deficit. WIU's defense fought to extend rallies, led by Karlie Lane, who posted 17 digs. Despite a block from Kremer and a kill from Cruse that slowed the Beacons briefly, Valpo pulled away and secured the second set, 25-17.

Set Three
The third set featured early back-and-forth play. Franklin and Adair connected on back-to-back kills to keep WIU within striking distance, and Norton added five assists and a service ace to help fuel the offense. Off the bench, Caroline Clayton provided energy with a late kill, while Lane continued to anchor the back row with timely digs.

Valpo used its serving pressure to break open the set, forcing Leatherneck miscues while scoring on quick swings through the middle. Western Illinois kept battling, with Cruse and Adair combining for four kills in the frame, but the Beacons' balanced attack was too steady, closing the set 25-16 to complete the sweep.