Volleyball Wins in Five at Western Illinois

Sunday, October 16

Macomb, Ill.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

3-17 (2-6SL)

Western Illinois

4-20 (1-7SL)

South Dakota State

Western Illinois

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

10/16/2016 4:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

MACOMB, Ill.—The South Dakota State volleyball team came from two sets down to defeat Western Illinois in five sets, 21-25, 22-25, 25-13, 31-29 and 15-12, Sunday afternoon in Summit League action in front of 118 fans at Western Hall.

With the win, the Jackrabbits improve to 3-17 overall and 2-6 in The Summit League while Western Illinois falls to 4-20 and 1-7.

"Not the prettiest of matches, but we showed great resilience and heart to come back from being behind and get the win," second-year head coach Nicole Cirillo said.

SDSU was led by senior Ashley Beaner's season-high 19 kills and 14 digs. Classmate Nazya Thies also recorded a double-double with 12 kills and a career-high 17 digs. Mattison Munger registered another double-double with 43 set assists and 12 digs.

On defense, freshman Ashlynn Smith recorded a solo block and five block assists. Junior Ellie Benson led five Jacks in double figures in digs with 22.

Melanie Patenaude led Western Illinois with 16 kills and 10 digs. Kaili Simmons had a match-best 32 digs.

The Jackrabbits' offense stalled in the first set as Western Illinois built a 19-9 lead. SDSU battled back with an 8-3 run to pull within four, 22-18. The Jacks came within three at 24-21, but a Leatherneck kill sealed the win.

South Dakota State used its momentum from the end of the first set to open the second with a 4-0 run fueled by back-to-back kills from Thies. The Jackrabbits were up 14-8 after a Makenzie Hennen kill and two service aces from Munger.

Western Illinois then came back with a 10-3 run to take its first lead of the set at 18-17. The teams were tied three times before the Leathernecks got a block and kill and the Jacks committed an error on set point.

The Jackrabbits took control in the third set, leading 15-3 midway through and got the win on a Beaner kill.

SDSU took an early lead in the fourth set, 12-9, on sophomore Sierra Peterson's kill. The Jacks pushed the lead to 21-16 on a block by Beaner and Smith, but WIU came back to tie the set at 23-23 with a 7-2 run. The teams recorded six ties until the Leathernecks committed back-to-back hitting errors to give the Jacks a 31-29 win in the set.

After five ties in the fifth set, the Jackrabbits broke an 11-11 tie with a 4-1 run to win the set and the match on a Thies kill.

MATCH NOTES

The last time the Jackrabbits were down two sets and came back to win a five-set match was Sept. 20, 2014, at Chicago State.
Ashley Beaner now has recorded 10-or-more kills in a match 12 times.
Ellie Benson has 20-or-more digs in four matches.
Beaner registered her fourth double-double of her career today. It was Mattison Munger's 10th career double-double and Thies' second.
SDSU leads the all-time series with Western Illinois, 15-5, and has won the last three matches.

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits return to the friendly confines of Frost Arena when they host Denver Thursday at 7 p.m.

For more information on the South Dakota State volleyball team, follow the Jackrabbits on Twitter (@GoJacksVB) or like South Dakota State Volleyball on Facebook.

-GoJacks.com-