West Central Reporter

The Western Illinois University (WIU) volleyball team secured a significant victory against Eastern Illinois University (EIU), ending their three-match losing streak. The match concluded in four sets, with Keyana Cruse leading the Leathernecks with 23 kills and a hitting percentage of .392. Maggie Craker also contributed significantly, achieving a season-high of 53 assists. The team collectively maintained a hitting percentage of .280, while Karli Wenzel led defensively with 20 digs.

The first set was closely contested, with the lead never exceeding three points. WIU tied the set seven times through contributions from Grace Nichols, Elizabeth Ziegler, Brittany Wulf, and Julianna Schmidt. However, EIU finished strong to win the set 26-24.

In the second set, WIU dominated from the start, establishing an early 11-4 lead and extending it to as much as 14 points. Keyana Cruse initiated the scoring with three consecutive kills. Balanced offensive efforts saw WIU secure the set comfortably at 25-12.

The third set mirrored this dominance as WIU began with a 16-5 run highlighted by five kills from Cruse. Despite EIU's attempts to close the gap to 17-10, WIU maintained control and won the set 25-17.

Set four featured competitive exchanges between both teams. EIU briefly led at 13-10 following a 10-3 run but WIU responded effectively with an 8-4 run to reclaim an advantage at 18-17. Elizabeth Ziegler and Julianna Schmidt played crucial roles in maintaining this lead until back-to-back kills by Brittany Wulf and Ziegler sealed a narrow victory for WIU at 26-24.

The Leathernecks are scheduled to face EIU again tomorrow afternoon for their final regular-season meeting, starting at 4 p.m.

For further updates on Leatherneck Volleyball activities, visit GoLeathernecks.com or follow them on social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.