Annika Black Graduate Assistant | Western Illinois University Leathernecks Website
Annika Black Graduate Assistant | Western Illinois University Leathernecks Website
Western Illinois University's volleyball team is preparing for a challenging matchup against Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) this Thursday and Friday in Cape Girardeau. The Leathernecks aim to improve their standing in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) after last weekend's losses to Tennessee Tech.
Keyana Cruse was a standout performer for Western Illinois, recording 29 kills over the weekend with an average of 3.63 per set. Grace Kremer and Julianna Schmidt contributed defensively with five total blocks each, helping WIU outblock Tennessee Tech 13-12.
Karli Wenzel made significant progress in her career statistics, moving into sixth place for career digs at Western Illinois with a total of 1,211. She is now only 192 digs away from breaking into the top five.
Currently tied for fifth place in the OVC standings with Southern Indiana and SIUE, Western Illinois holds a 6-6 record. The team is striving to end a decade-long absence from postseason play by securing one of the top eight spots needed to qualify for the OVC tournament.
Cruse continues to excel in her junior year, ranking fourth in kills within the conference with 297 and averaging 3.49 kills per set. She also ranks fifth in total points, contributing 342 points this season at an average of over four per set.
Other notable players include Maggie Craker, Brittany Wulf, Karli Wenzel, and Julianna Schmidt who are all ranked within the top ten in various statistical categories across the OVC. Craker is fifth in assists with 794; Wulf ranks sixth in service aces with 26; Wenzel has accumulated 401 digs this season, placing her sixth; and Schmidt stands tenth with 82 total blocks.
Their opponents SEMO are currently tied at the top of the OVC standings with a strong record of 10-2. The Redhawks have only lost matches against Eastern Illinois and SIUE. They are led by Lucy Arndt, who recently earned recognition as freshman of the week following her performance against Little Rock where she achieved a double-double including a game-high of 13 kills.
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