MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois volleyball team (5-7, 0-2) rallied to force a fifth set after being down 2-0 to Kansas City Saturday (Sept. 15), but the Kangaroos (8-6, 1-1) were able to hold off the Leathernecks' momentum in set five, and earn a 3-2 match victory.
Western Hall was packed as 879 fans filled the stands, the highest attendance for a Western Illinois home match since September 20, 2010 when 1,024 fans attended the Leathernecks' home match versus Eastern Illinois in Western Hall.
Sarah Fetter finished with a game-high 56 assists in the match, a carer-high for the junior. Her previous single-game career-best was 50 which she did twice, first against South Dakota last season (Oct. 2), and the other coming in this year's season opener against Montana State.
Three Leathernecks finished the match with 10-plus kills. Samantha Fournier tallied a team-best 21, Katie Hosteng put down 15, and Ann Miller killed 12 attacks. Mallory Gibson and Jordan Jackson also contributed in the offensive effort, killing six hits each.
Leading the team in digs was Bridget Murphy who tallied 26, while Fournier and Fetter each helped out in the back row digging 16 and 15 Kangaroo hits, respectively. Gibson and Fournier each finished with a team-high four blocks.
Kansas City was led by Emily Lucas who finished with 29 kills, Ella Meier (35) and Nicole Wemhoff (29) who led the Kangaroos in assists, and Taryn Miller who tallied 27 digs.
The Leathernecks' next action is next Monday (Sept. 17) at Oakland. The match is slated to begin at 6 p.m. CT.
