MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois volleyball team (7-9, 2-4) battled until the end, but fell to the Omaha Mavericks (6-10, 1-3) Friday evening (Sept. 28), 3-2, inside Brophy Hall. The Fighting Leathernecks earned victories in sets one and three by scores of 25-14 and 25-17. UNO downed Western, 25-20, in set two, and went on to earn wins in sets four and five by scores of 25-22 and 15-10.
The Leathernecks had three players finish with 10-plus kills in Katie Hosteng (17), Samantha Fournier (15), and Ann Miller (10). Mallory Gibson and Heather Smith also contributed on the offensive attack, putting down eight and seven kills, respectively.
Hosteng (.379), Gibson (.375) and Smith (.333) led Western in hitting percentage.
Sarah Fetter finished the evening with 53 assists marking the third time this season she has tallied 50-plus. Fetter had a career-best 56 assists this season against Kansas City (Sept. 15).
In the back row for Western, Bridget Murphy and Fournier led the Leathernecks in digs, posted in 18 and 11, respectively.
The Mavericks were led by Natalie Ebke (16) and Kelley Wollak (12) led the team in kills, while Bailey Baxter (28) and Michaela Schimmer (20) each tallied 20-plus assists.
Western returns to action Tuesday evening (Oct. 2) for a non-conference match at Saint Louis. The two teams are scheduled to begin the match at 7 p.m.
