MACOMB, IL - The Western Illinois Volleyball team opened up their conference play this weekend with matches against SEMO on September 25th and September 26th.
Set one of the first match started with the Leathernecks going on a 4-0 run after being down 2-0, bringing the score to 4-2 in favor of Western. Western also led 6-4, before SEMO went on an 11-2 run, which led to a 13-7 deficit for the Leathernecks, which was one they were unable to come back from, with the set ending with a 25-16 score in favor of the Redhawks.
The second set was also very competitive early, with Western being down 8-7 at one point, before a 5 point run by SEMO, which did put the Leathernecks in a bit of a hole. Western Illinois did compete for the rest of the set, having a 3 point run of their own at one point in time. The set ended with a final of 25-17 in favor of the Redhawks, leaving Western Illinois down 2 sets to 0.
The third and final set of the first match just saw a slow start from the Leathernecks, going down 11-3 early, as well as being down 15-4. Western Illinois was able to get a few points late, but the set ended with a final of 25-10, and a SEMO match win.
The first match was one in which the Leathernecks lost 3 sets to 0, and saw almost every Leatherneck play a set. Kennedy Adair and Georgia Haynes led the way for Western Illinois with eight and six kills respectively, while Ashlee Markert led Western with 10 digs. Three Leathernecks all recorded either six or seven assists on the day, with Madelyn Norton having six, with Jaleah Bauss and Alysia Perez each having seven.
The second match of the weekend was another that went only three sets, although the Leathernecks did put up more points in the sets than the previous day.
The first set of match two started off with the Leathernecks going up 2-0, as well as 3-1, before SEMO went on a 4-0 run. The Leathernecks then nodded up the set at 5, before SEMO went on another small two point run. The teams traded points back and forth, and Western Illinois was up 12-10 at one point, before allowing six straight Redhawk points, which had them down 16-12. The teams then traded points for the rest of the set, which ended with a final of 25-18.
Set two of match two was another which was competitive early, with the score being 3-4, 5-7, and 8-11, before five straight Redhawk points brought the set score to 8-16. Western also let up another four point run later in the set, which ultimately led to a final set score of 25-12 in favor of SEMO.
The third and final set of match two saw Western Illinois jump out to a 7-3 lead off the back of a six point run with Alysia Perez serving. Unfortunately, the Leathernecks were then outscored 9-2 in the next 13 points, bringing the score to 9-12 SEMO. Western kept bleeding points throughout the rest of the set, which led to the team being down 24-16. Jaleah Bauss then came in to serve, and the Leathernecks scored five straight points before ultimately falling in the set 25-21.
Kennedy Adair and Ashlee Markert led the Leathernecks with 9 and 7 kills respectively, while Markert led the team with 10 digs, followed closely behind by Karlie Lane and Alysia Perez, who had 9 and 8 a piece. Jaleah Bauss led Western with 10 assists, and was followed by Alysia Perez, who had 7.Â
Leatherneck Volleyball will be back in action on October 2nd and 3rd, with matches against Tennessee State in Nashville marking the first road conference series.
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