Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
8-9, 2-3MVC
Bradley
0-16, 0-6MVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley | 12 | 18 | 22 | 0 |
| Southern Illinois | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Salukis sweep Bradley, finishing 1-1 on the weekend
10/04/2014 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
By Elizabeth Robinson
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The SIU volleyball team (8-9, 2-3 MVC) snapped their three-game losing streak with a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-18, 25-22) against Bradley (0-16, 0-6 MVC) on Saturday afternoon. The Salukis maintained momentum throughout the entire match, excelling both offensively and defensively.
Sophomore Meg Viggars led the Salukis with 10 kills on 18 swings for a .444 hitting percentage, and 16 assists. Freshman Andrea Estrada followed with nine kills, hitting .318, and added 10 digs. Once again, senior Alex Rivera led SIU defensively with 12 digs.
"We feel pretty good about being able to rebound from something that was tough and being able to move forward with this new step," head coach Justin Ingram said. "This was one of those performances where we felt pretty good offensively, we sided out at a high rate and we were in control for most of the match."
The Salukis were off to a quick start in the first frame as a five point run with kills by Estrada, Viggars and a block assist by Viggars and sophomore McKenzie Dorris pushed SIU to an early lead. SIU hit points off several Bradley serves, siding out at 76 percent compared to the Braves' 37 percent. The Salukis' service pressure allowed them to advance their lead, 22-9, as SIU scored seven consecutive points on serves by sophomore Hannah Kaminsky. A kill by Viggars closed out the set, 25-12.
"I thought our service game was on point and that really set the tone for the match," Ingram said. "We got out of the gate with some good heat on the serve. It was pretty consistent and in the zone."
The second set was closer than the first, with four ties and three lead changes. A kill by freshman Abby Barrow propelled the Salukis to a 9-1 run, advancing SIU to a 12-6 lead. The Braves rallied back to come within a point of the Salukis, but SIU benefitted from several Bradley errors and kills by freshman Anna Himan and junior Taylor Pippen to secure the win, 25-18.
Bradley trailed SIU throughout the entire third set with the Salukis siding out at 73 percent and hitting .256. SIU let up on the service pressure, with five service errors, allowing the Braves to come within as few as three points near the end of the set. But attack and service errors by the Braves, along with kills by Estrada, Dorris and Viggars, allowed the Salukis to maintain the lead. A kill by freshman Nellie Fredriksson pushed SIU to take the set and match, 25-22.
SIU travels to Iowa to face Drake and Northern Iowa next weekend before returning to Davies for a four-match home stand.
"We need to be more disciplined and more consistent regardless of the score, regardless of the day, and regardless of the pressures," Ingram said. "Right now we're still up and down, but today was one of those upswings."
