Volleyball Falls in Four Sets

Saturday, November 4

Brookings, S.D.

6 p.m.

South Dakota State University

2-23, 0-12

Western Illinois

7-18,2-9

Western Illinois

South Dakota State

Photo by: Jason Salzman

11/4/2017 8:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Senior Ellie Benson reached 1,000 career digs on Senior Night, but it wasn't enough as the South Dakota State volleyball team dropped a 3-1 match to Western Illinois Saturday night in front of 387 fans in Frost Arena.

The Jackrabbits (2-23, 0-12) lost 22-25, 25-15, 25-15 and 25-15 to the Fighting Leathernecks (7-18, 2-9).

Sophomore Ashlynn Smith had a career- and match-high 14 kills. Junior Sierra Peterson had a personal-best 13 kills. Freshman Maddie Fay posted a career-high 33 set assists and tied a personal best with nine digs. Benson had a team-best 19 digs.

Western Illinois' Melanie Patenaude had 11 kills and 13 digs while Shalyn Greenhaw had a double-double with 10 kills and a match-high 20 digs.

Turning Points
In the first set, the Jackrabbits raced to a 12-5 lead. Smith logged three kills, junior Payton Richardson a pair and one from Peterson to power the run. SDSU pushed the lead to 16-9, but Western Illinois used a 10-3 run to take a 20-19 lead. The Jackrabbits scored six of the next eight points for the win.

South Dakota State fell behind 19-9 in the second set and couldn't rally as the Fighting Leathernecks finished the set with a solo block.

The Jackrabbits trailed 11-5 in the third set before Peterson fueled a 5-2 run with a pair of kills to pull within 13-10. WIU outscored State 12-5 down the stretch.

Peterson recorded three consecutive kills late in the final set, but Western Illinois finished with a kill and a pair of blocks.

Notables

Ellie Benson's 19 digs tonight gives the libero 1,022 career digs. Benson is the 13^th Jackrabbits with 1,000 career digs.
Hanna Jellema had a career-high eight kills.
Mattison Munger has 1,994 career assists. She ranks ninth on the SDSU career list and needs six set assists to become the ninth Jackrabbit with 2,000 career set assists.

Up Next
South Dakota State returns to the court Tuesday at 7 p.m. when it plays in-state rival South Dakota in a South Dakota Corn Showdown Series match.

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-