Ohio Valley Conference

MACOMB, Ill. - The WIU volleyball team defeated SIUE in three sets on Saturday afternoon to complete the sweep of the Cougars. With the win, the Leathernecks improved to 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2007. 

The Leathernecks were led offensively by Keyana Cruse, finishing with a match-high 17 kills, while Maggie Craker would finish with a match-high 45 assists. As a team, the Leathernecks had a hitting percentage of .423. Defensively, Karli Wenzel had a match-high 20 digs and the Leathernecks would finish with five blocks as a team. 

In set one, there were 7 ties throughout the early part of the set. With the set tied at 13, Keyana Cruse would have a kill followed by a service ace to put the Leathernecks ahead 15-13. Elizabeth Ziegler would follow that with a kill extending the WIU lead at 16-13. Later in the set, back-to-back kills by Julianna Schmidt and Keyana Cruse would be the dagger as the Leathernecks would go on to take the set by a score of 25-18. 

In set two, WIU would dominate SIUE the whole set. The Leathernecks jumped out to a 15-4 lead to start the set thanks to several kills from Grace Nichols, Brittany Wulf,  Elizabeth Ziegler, and Keyana Cruse. WIU would have 19 kills in the second set, easily winning the set by a score of 25-12. 

In set three, SIUE started out with a 6-2 lead early on. The Leathernecks would respond in a big way as Maggie Craker would have a kill followed by back-to-back kills by Keyana Cruse giving the Leathernecks the lead at 9-8. The two teams would trade the next 12 points giving the Cougars a 15-14 lead in the later part of the set. The Leathernecks would once again go on a run to put them up 19-15. That run would be the difference as WIU would go on to sweep SIUE and take the third set by a score of 25-19.

LINDENWOOD 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Lindenwood women's volleyball (8-6, 2-0 OVC) swept Eastern Illinois (4-8, 0-2 OVC) for the second straight day to start Ohio Valley Conference play 2-0. It marked the first time in Lindenwood's Division I era that they have posted back-to-back sweeps and the first time since 2021.

Setter Allie Otten spread the wealth on offense for the Lions as six different Lions posted at least five kills. Autumn Bax led the team for the second straight match against EIU with nine kills. Bax now has 100 kills during her freshman season. LU has five different Lions with at least 100 kills this season. Middle hitters Ashley Geluck and Rebecca Janke also posted seven kills each. Otten also had 34 assists and 10 digs against the Panthers.

Lindenwood's blocking was stout on Saturday as they posted seven team blocks with four different Lions earning a solo block. Bax had a season-high two solo blocks in the win while Janke added one solo and two block assists. Libero Jessie Seidel continued her streak of double-digit digs with 13 vs. EIU. She also tied the Lindenwood NCAA era record in sets played in a career with 446. Defensive specialist Dana Grib also added seven digs.

The first set started with Lindenwood taking a 13-3 lead after a 10-1 gave the Lions a big lead. Six different Lions had multiple kills including a set high three by Janke. EIU was held to six kills after hitting -.107 with nine attack errors.

Bax led the Lions' group in the second set after putting down four kills. Linenwood hit .205 in the second with 14 kills. Their defense stopped Eastern Illinois in the second set with three blocks and forced them into eight attack errors.

Lindenwood started off the third and final set hot taking a 20-10 lead. EIU made a small comeback late but it was too much as Lindenwood closed the match winning their second straight vs. EIU. Lindenwood has now won four out of their last five matches.

LITTLE ROCK 3, UT MARTIN 1
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Recap coming soon.

TENNESSEE TECH 3, MOREHEAD STATE 1
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Recap coming soon.

SOUTHERN INDIANA 3, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Recap coming soon.