Western Illinois suffered a setback against South Dakota State on Thursday (Oct. 6) evening. The Leatherneck dropped straight sets to the Jackrabbits 22-25, 13-25, 12-25.
SET 1
Western would come out on the front foot to start the match. Brittany Wulf had three kills to help WIU jump to a 4-1 lead. South Dakota State would use a 6-1run in the middle of the set to push their lead out 15-10. The Leathernecks would not go down quietly. A 4-1 run that saw multiple kills from Grace Kremer helped WIU bring the deficit down to two (16-14). After SDSU would increase the lead back out to four, WIU would go on another big 8-4 run to have the set all squared at 22. Elizabeth Ziegler had three kills during that run. With the set all tied at 22, SDSU would get the final three points taking the set 25-22
SET 2
Set 2 saw both teams battling right off the bat. Jessie Connell started the set off with a surprise attack. Connell would send the ball over on two and get the kill. Both teams would trade points as the score would be tied five times before anyone would score over five points. The Leathernecks would hold the lead at 3-2 and 4-3 before it would get tied at 5. After Western Illinois tied the match, an 8-2 run by SDSU would stretch out their lead. The Jackrabbits would eventually go on a 20-8 run and close out the set 25-13.
SET 3
After WIU got an early 1-0 lead, SDSU would find momentum. They would use a 14-3 run to push the match to 14-4 midway through the set. SDSU was able to put another run together as they went on an 8-4 run and held a 22-8 advantage. WIU would have a little fight left in them as they would put together a 4-1 run before SDSU won the set 25-12.
Ziegler and Wulf both had double-digit kills with 10. Kremer had six kills as well. Aubrey Putman and Karli Wenzel led the way with 14 digs. Jessie Connell had 23 assists. Western Illinois had two total blocks as a team. They also had a .133 hitting percentage on the night.
WIU will finish off the home stand with a battle against South Dakota on Saturday (Oct. 8) afternoon inside Western Hall.
Original source can be found here.
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