Salukis Drop Pair of Matches on Final Day of Flyer Classic

Saturday, September 17

Dayton, Ohio

6:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

8-5

Dayton

13-1

Southern Illinois

Dayton

09/17/2016 | 8:50:00 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Saluki volleyball team fell to a pair of 2015 NCAA Tournament teams in Loyola Marymount and the University of Dayton, concluding play at the Flyer Classic Saturday.

SIU (9-5) lost to the Lions of Loyola Marymount (8-3) in straight-sets, 25-21, 25-21, 25-20, before falling to the hosts, the Flyers (13-1), 25-23, 25-21, 25-22.

In the first match of the day, the Salukis hit .365, marking the fourth time this season that Southern has hit .350 or better during a match. The Lions one-upped the Salukis, hitting at a .417 clip in the win.

Meg Viggars led the Saluki attack against LMU, finishing with a team-best nine kill and hit .500. She also dished out 17 assists and added three digs and a block assist. Andrea Estrada hit .350, tallying eight kills on 20 swings with four digs and three block assists, while Abby Barrow and Nellie Fredriksson each hit .429. Barrow notched eight kills on 14 swings, while Fredriksson totaled six kills and three block assists.

Mariana Pilon paced the Saluki defensive efforts with nine digs.

In finale of the Flyer Classic, the Salukis fell to Dayton in three sets, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22. The Flyers, who are the third team receieving votes in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Poll, had a balanced attack with four hitters totaling double-digit kills.

A pair of Salukis notched double-figure kills, as Estrada led the way with 12 kills to go along with eight digs. Kolby Meeks recorded 10 kills on 24 swings for a .333 hitting efficiency, while Pilon totaled 14 digs.

Southern finished with six team blocks, including six block assists from Meeks. Viggars added three block assists while Estrada chipped in a pair.

Hannah Kaminsky narrowly notched her second double-double of the season, tallying 18 assists and nine digs in the loss to the hosts.

The Salukis will open Missouri Valley Conference play Friday, when they host the Northern Iowa Panthers at Davies Gym. First serve is set for 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here or by calling 1-877-SALUKIS.