MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois' Samantha Fournier put down 28 kills in a hard fought loss to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (14-8, 6-4) Friday evening (Oct. 19) in Macomb. The Fighting Leathernecks (9-13, 3-8) earned a win in the first set, 25-22, but SDSU was able to sweep the remaining games by scores of 25-22, 25-20 and 35-33, and earn a 3-1 match victory.
Fournier's 28-kill performance is tied for the sixth most recorded by a Leatherneck in a match, and is tied for the most-ever put down by a Western player in a four-set match. It's also the most by a Leatherneck since Betsy Wujek killed 32 attacks in 1996.
The other three Leathernecks that tallied 28 kills in a match were Michele Touvelle (1983), Sue Orstrom (twice in 1987) and Amy Damon (1994), and the only other player that put down 28 kills in a four-set match was Sue Orstrom on October 31st, 1987.
Besides Fournier, three other Leathernecks finished with more than 10 kills in the loss: Ann Miller (13), Katie Hosteng (13) and Heather Smith (12), as the team tallied a season-high 72 kills on the night.
Sarah Fetter bested her career-high in assists, dishing out 64. Her previous career-best came at home against Kansas City earlier this
season (Sept. 15) when she finished with 56.
Bridget Murphy finished with a team-best 29 digs in the match, while four others tallied 10-plus digs: Miller (14), Fournier (11), Fetter (11), and Bailey Kaloupek (10).
Western had 12 total blocks on the evening, the fourth time this year they have finished with more than 10. Mallory Gibson led the way with eight.
The Jackrabbits were led by two players who each tallied 15 kills in Kelli Fiegen and Margit Hansing.
The Leathernecks play host to the North Dakota State Bison tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. inside Brophy Hall.
Match Notes: Western scored 33 points in its third set loss Friday, the most the Leathernecks had recorded in a set since September 19, 2009 when they defeated Kansas City 33-31 in the third set of a match Western went on to win, 3-1.
The 35 points scored by the Jackrabbits Friday was the most against the Leathernecks since November 16, 2007 when South Dakota State defeated Western 38-36 in the first set of their match. SDSU went on to down Western 3-0 in the match.
