MARTIN, Tenn. – Alabama A&M (0-6, 0-0 SWAC) delivered their most competitive match of the season but could not quite get over the hump as they dropped a 3-0 decision to Western Illinois (1-5, 0-0 Summit) in the finale of the Skyhawk Invitational and an NCAA Division I women's volleyball match on Saturday, September 3.
 
It would be a game of runs in the opening set as the Fighting Leathernecks jumped out to a 9-2 advantage in the opening moments before four service aces by freshman middle blocker Madison Reagins (Duncanville, Texas) and a pair of kills by freshman outside hitter Bailey Duckett (Huntsville, Ala.) accounted for a 6-0 burst to close the gap to 9-8.
 
The clubs would be separated by no more than two points over the next several rallies before a mini 3-0 run gave WIU a 14-10 advantage. With the score at 15-12, the Leathernecks delivered four straight to push to a seven-point margin before the Bulldogs offense roared to life.

They would rip off nine of the next 11 points to deadlock at 21-21, a run that featured four kills from Duckett and two by Reagins, before Western Illinois put away the frame as they forced four straight attack errors to escape with a 25-21 victory.
 
After the teams stayed within two points of each other and knotted at 9-9 over the first 18, the second set would play out very similar to the first. WIU would use a 3-0 run to take the lead and would hold just a 14-13 advantage minutes later.
 
Following back-to-back points by the Leathernecks to stretch to another three-point margin, A&M scored six of the next eight to flip the script and pull ahead 19-18. That would be short-lived, however, as six straight points fueled a set-ending 7-1 burst to lock up the 25-20 decision and go up 2-0 in the match.
 
Behind the serving of freshman outside hitter Caitlin Shaw (Desoto, Texas), Alabama A&M staked themselves to an early 7-3 advantage in the third set only to see WIU knot it up at 8-8 with a 5-1 run. The clubs would continue to go back-and-forth with A&M taking an 11-9 lead and the Leathernecks answering with four straight points for a 13-11 lead.
 
A&M tied it up and three points from Western Illinois put them back ahead before the Bulldogs knotted it up, 16-16, with three of their own. They would then find themselves down 22-18 and answered with four straight to tie it at 22-22. The clubs would exchange points to remain deadlocked before Western Illinois put it away with a kill and a forced attack error for a 25-23 decision and 3-0 match sweep.
 
Duckett delivered the second double-double of her young career, registering 10 kills and 12 digs, while Reagins just missed with eight kills and nine digs to go with a career-high four aces. Shaw wasn't far behind with seven kills and a pair of aces and freshman libero Tammy Melendez Mondragon (Pelham, Ala.) finished with 12 digs.
 
Sophomore setter Keyara Brooks (Arlington, Texas) dished out a match-high 21 assists with six digs to round out the top performers. For her efforts throughout the weekend, the latter earned All-Tournament honors.
 
Brittany Wulf was just shy of a double-double of her own for the Fighting Leathernecks with seven kills and 13 digs to go with four aces and Maggie Craker finished with 18 assists. Aubrey Putman added six kills and eight digs, Elizabeth Ziegler eight kills and Karli Wenzel a match-best 16 digs.
 
Alabama A&M takes a break from the tournament portion of the season to head to Southeastern Conference (SEC) foe Auburn on Tuesday, September 6. First serve is set for 7 p.m. in Auburn, Alabama.