By: Ethan Wolbach
After a statement win against Purdue Ft. Wayne over the weekend, the Mavericks entered the day 7-5 at home this season as they welcomed the Western Illinois Leathernecks to Baxter Arena Monday, November 11th @ 12 p.m. The Mavericks got down to business early, eventually sweeping Western Illinois 3-0 in the match.
In set one, the Mavericks jumped out to an early 9-3 lead thanks to the hot hand of freshman Rachel Fairbanks who tallied 13 kills in the match. Up as many as 9 in the set, the Leathernecks battled their way to within 3 before the Mavericks went on a 7-1 run to finish out set one, 25-16.
The Leathernecks competed early in set two, tying the match at 8 all until Omaha went on a 4-0 run behind back-to-back kills from Sade and Fairbanks. A service error by Sadie Limback and two attack errors by the Mavericks opened the door for Western Illinois to pull within one, 16-15. However, the Mavericks strung together a 7-2 run before a kill by Fairbanks ended the Leathernecks in the second set, 25-19.
Needing 3 straight-set wins for a victory, Western Illinois came out strong in set three leading 5-4 before the offense came to a sputtering halt. Omaha took control of the set from then on, until a late 5-0 run by Western Illinois tied the set at 17. It proved to be too little too late for the Leathernecks as the Mavericks finished off the set 25-21.
Omaha moves to 16-12 on the year, as the Leathernecks fall to 6-21. Omaha travels to Denver to play the Pioneers on Friday, November 15 @ 8 p.m. before wrapping up the season at South Dakota St. on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m.
