OMAHA, Neb. — Chicago St. lost to Western Mich. 3-0 on Friday, falling 25-6, 25-20, 25-12 at Baxter Arena. CSU's second-set push moved it from a 15-13 deficit to an 18-16 lead, but Western Mich. took the set 25-20. The Cougars finished with 21 kills and six total blocks, while Western Mich. hit .344 with 47 kills and 10 service aces.

Nayella George put CSU on the board with a kill to make it 2-1, but Western Mich. took control during Leah Richmond's serve with a stretch that included her ace, a Gabby Weihe-Annalise Patchett block and a Weihe kill for a 7-1 lead. Camryn McCollum recorded three early kills for Chicago State, and George and Graci Littlejohn added kills as the set moved to 15-6. Western Mich. closed by scoring the final 10 points, including three Cassidy Pratley service aces, to take the opening set 25-6.

CSU moved ahead 12-10 in the second set on a Littlejohn kill and a block by Jenesis Perrin and Littlejohn, but Western Mich. answered with a run that included kills by Leah Richmond, Gabby Weihe and Annalise Patchett to go in front 15-12. McCollum stopped that stretch with a kill, and with Reece Mazzier serving, the Cougars won four straight points on three Western Mich. attack errors and another McCollum kill to take a 17-15 lead before a Nina Mitchell block made it 18-16. Kills by Mitchell and George helped Chicago State stay ahead 20-18, but Western Mich. scored the final seven points, including two Izzy Swiercz kills and a Carley Piercefield ace, to take the set 25-20.

Western Mich. put CSU behind 5-1 in the third set behind kills from Annalise Patchett and Gabby Weihe and consecutive Leah Richmond service aces. McCollum answered with two early kills for the Cougars, and George added kills at 13-5 and 15-6, but Western Mich. kept extending the margin with swings from Richmond and a Carley Piercefield ace during the middle of the set. Chicago State got back-to-back points on a McCollum kill and an Ella Askin attack error to make it 19-9, but Western Mich. moved to set point on consecutive Richmond kills and finished the set 25-12 on an Izzy Swiercz service ace.

McCollum led CSU with 10 kills and 10.5 points, adding two digs and one block assist. Kristine Bakhad recorded 20 assists and three digs. Skye Riley collected a team-high seven digs. George added seven kills and six digs.

Up next, CSU volleyball team will face the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 1:30 p.m.