Annika Black Graduate Assistant | Western Illinois University Leathernecks Website
Annika Black Graduate Assistant | Western Illinois University Leathernecks Website
Western Illinois University's volleyball team secured a victory against Tennessee State on Senior Day, achieving a four-set win inside Western Hall. This marks the team's eighth conference win, bringing their record to 8-8.
In the first set, WIU established an early lead with contributions from graduate student Annika Black and senior Kennedy Bauer. The Leathernecks maintained control throughout, winning the set 25-17.
The second set saw WIU initially trailing before Keyana Cruse and Kaitlyn Wickersheim helped regain the lead with crucial plays. Despite this effort, Tennessee State managed to claim the set 25-23 after a late run.
During the third set, WIU was behind but mounted a comeback led by Cruse and Bauer's offensive efforts. The Leathernecks overcame a deficit to win 28-26.
The final set was closely contested, with both teams exchanging leads. A kill from Bauer and an error from Tennessee State allowed WIU to edge ahead. Ultimately, Cruse secured the match-winning point for a 25-23 victory in the fourth set.
Keyana Cruse stood out with 17 kills and 14 digs, earning her a double-double performance. Kennedy Bauer concluded her last home game with 11 kills. Maggie Craker also achieved a double-double with 40 assists and 13 digs. Kaitlyn Wickersheim contributed significantly from the service line with five aces as part of WIU's total of 14 service aces.
Looking ahead, Western Illinois will conclude their season against Eastern Illinois on November 15-16 as they aim for their first conference tournament appearance in ten years.
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