Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Indiana State
Salukis fall to Indiana State in five sets
09/27/2014 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
By Elizabeth Robinson
SIUSalukis.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Salukis (7-8) fell in a close, five-set match at Indiana State (9-5) on Saturday night. SIU claimed the second and fourth sets, to push the match to five, but fell short after Indiana State went on a five-point run to take a 15-10 fifth-set victory.
Freshman Andrea Estrada led the Salukis with 14 kills and 15 points. Junior Taylor Pippen added to SIU's offense with 12 kills. On the defensive side, sophomore McKenzie Dorris played a key role with five blocks - four block assists and one solo.
Competition was tight throughout the entire match, with the score tying 44 times and changing 21 times throughout the five sets. The Salukis and Sycamores tied the score six times in the final frame alone. With no more than a three-point differential between the teams through most of the set, the Salukis tied the score 10-10 after a bad set by the Sycamores. After an Indiana State timeout, the Sycamores hit five consecutive points to seal the match.
In the first set, a large 9-2 run by the Sycamores advanced Indiana State to a 15-8 lead, forcing SIU to take a timeout. But the Salukis fought back with an eight-point run to regain the lead. SIU was unable to hold on, however, and ultimately fell to the Sycamores, 25-22.
The score remained tight throughout the second set, but the Salukis took an early lead on an ace by Estrada and maintained the lead through the end. SIU played its best offense in the second set, hitting .303, with 14 kills on 33 attempts.
The third and fourth frames were just as tight, with 22 ties between the two sets. Indiana State had an edge over SIU in the third, hitting .275 compared to the Salukis' .195, taking the set 25-20. But the tables turned in the fourth as SIU claimed the 25-23 victory with back-to-back blocks by Dorris and freshman Nellie Fredriksson, and a kill by Estrada.
With Saturday's loss, the Salukis fall to 1-2 in the conference. SIU returns to Davies Gym on Friday and Saturday to face Loyola and Bradley.
