BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY
PRINTABLE BOX SCORE (.pdf)
PRINTABLE PLAY-BY-PLAY (.pdf)
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Western Illinois volleyball team earned its second tournament title in as many weeks Sunday with a 3-0 victory (25-6, 25-19, 25-5) over Savannah State at the Drury Inn/ASICS Challenge. The Fighting Leathernecks are 6-2 to start a season for the first time since the 1990 campaign.
"This tournament title was a complete team effort as every player saw action over the weekend," said head coach Kym McKay. "Mallory (Gibson) was very impressive in her collegiate debut and I look forward to her continued improvement this season. Megan (Toczek) had an outstanding weekend as she made big plays whenever we needed them. Our ball control created outstanding opportunities for both middle hitters (Cait Egan and Katie Hosteng) and they took advantage of the great play behind them."
Western Illinois had three players named to the all-tournament team. Junior libero Bridget Murphy, who rested Sunday, was honored as the tournament MVP after compiling 42 digs (6.00 digs per set) over the weekend. Senior Megan Toczek (27 kills) and junior middle hitter Katie Hosteng (.432 attack percentage) also earned all-tournament honors.
Western Illinois rested its starters Sunday and still posted impressive numbers in its fourth sweep of the season. The Fighting Leathernecks hit .413 (39k-8e-75ta) as a team against the Lady Tigers, which is the highest attack percentage recorded by Western Illinois since 2006 (.429 vs. Chicago State).
The Fighting Leathernecks also collected eight service aces and a season-high nine total blocks. Freshman middle hitter Mallory Gibson was extremely active at the net in her collegiate debut. The Port Byron, Ill. native had five solo blocks, three block assists and six kills on 16 attempts.
Fellow freshman right side Samantha Fournier tied for the team lead with 10 kills on 18 attempts (.500 attack percentage). Fournier also compiled a match-high 13 digs to record her first collegiate double-double.
Toczek put down 10 kills on 18 attempts (.444 attack percentage). Toczek, who is averaging 2.45 kills per set, has been a spark off the bench this season and is fourth on the squad in attack percentage (.223) and total points (53.0).
Senior setter Alyssa Holum had 29 assists, six digs and two service aces in her first start of the season. Freshman libero Molly Murphy had a season-high 12 digs and collected another service ace to push her team-high total to 13 on the season.
Western Illinois is back in action Wednesday (Sept. 7) when the Fighting Leathernecks travel to Normal, Ill. to take on Illinois State. First serve from Doug Collins Court inside Redbird Arena is set for 7:05 p.m. CST.
