West Central Reporter

Western Illinois University's volleyball team secured a spot in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) tournament after defeating Morehead State in a five-set match. The victory was crucial for WIU to remain in the top four of the OVC standings.

The Leathernecks honored their seniors during their final home game at Western Hall, with the senior class contributing significantly by combining for 52 kills and 58 assists. Keyana Cruse and Brittany Wulf each achieved 18 kills, while Grace Nichols added seven kills with an impressive .588 hitting percentage. Maggie Craker provided 50 assists, Karli Wenzel had seven, and Charity Dundas added one assist.

WIU started strong in set one, taking an early lead of 12-6. After Morehead State closed the gap to 16-14 with a 4-0 run, WIU responded with key plays from Grace Nichols and Brittany Wulf to end the Eagles' momentum. The Leathernecks finished the first set on a 3-0 run, winning it 25-19.

In set two, WIU extended their momentum by leading 18-8 early on. Although Morehead State made a comeback attempt with an 8-2 run, WIU held firm and won the set after Elizabeth Ziegler's kill put them within reach of victory. Brittany Wulf secured the final point for a two-set advantage.

Morehead State fought back in set three, establishing a significant lead of 19-9 that helped them win the set despite WIU's late efforts. Set four saw both teams trading points until Morehead State edged out a win at 25-21 after a decisive late run.

Entering set five with no prior wins in matches that went to five sets this season, WIU managed to reverse their fortunes by starting strong with a 6-2 lead. Despite Morehead State's attempts to close in on them, Keyana Cruse's pivotal kill helped maintain WIU's edge as they concluded the match on a decisive run.

The Leathernecks now hold an overall record of 16-11 and are officially qualified for their second consecutive OVC Volleyball tournament appearance since joining the conference. Their upcoming matches against Tennessee State Tigers will take place in Nashville on Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m.

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