Saluki volleyball wins five-set thriller over Central Florida

Friday, September 2

Carbondale, Ill.

7:00 PM

Southern Illinois University

4-0

UCF

3-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Central Florida	19	31	26	25	10	2
Southern Illinois	25	29	24	27	15	3

09/03/2016 | 1:43:00 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

CARBONDALE, Ill. –– The Southern Illinois University volleyball team won a five-set thriller 3-2 (25-19, 29-31, 24-26, 27-25, 15-10) over the UCF Knights at the Saluki Invitational on Friday evening inside the SIU Arena. The Salukis had four hitters record double-digit kills, overcoming a 2-1 set score deficit to pull out the win.

Southern improves to 4-0 on the season with the victory with Andrea Estrada and Abby Barrow leading the way. Estrada tallied her first double-double of the season, finishing with 19 kills and 17 digs while Barrow totaled 19 kills and added six block assists. Estrada hit .354, converting on 19 of her 48 attempts with just two errors. Alex Rosignol added 11 kills on 23 attempts to go along with a team-best nine block assists.

Southern's depth was critical to outlasting the Knights, as the Salukis got timely contributions from Shannon Hagen as well as middles McKenzie Dorris and Kolby Meeks. Hagen, who entered the match in the third frame, finished with an efficient 10 kills on 18 attempts and just one error. Meeks recorded the first three kills of her Saluki career in sets four and five, connecting on three of her four attempts while Dorris tallied five block assists.

The match itself featured 40 ties and 20 lead changes, most of which came during the middle sets. The Salukis opened the contest with a controlling 25-19 set one win, going ahead 6-5 on a kill by Rosignol and never looking back. Southern took a five point advantage on a double block by Dorris and Estrada and cruised to a 25-19 victory.

In set two, the Knights got out to a quick 4-0 lead, and forced the Salukis to take their first timeout after going ahead 8-2. Southern regrouped, going on a four point run with Meg Viggars serving, drawing to within three, 8-5. SIU continued to chip away at the Knights lead, Southern took its first lead of the set, 16-15, thanks to a double block by Barrow and Rosignol. The two sides continued to trade blows throughout the second set, with neither team able to get much distance from the other. Back-to-back kills by Jale Hervey of UCF gave the Knights a set two win and evened the match score.

Southern recorded its largest lead of the third set at 23-21 on an error by UCF's Kia Bright, but the Knights closed on a 5-1 run to take the set and go ahead 2-1.

Southern jumped out to a 13-9 lead on a kill by Viggars before a 6-2 spurt by the Knights tied the score, 15-15. The two sides continued to trade blows, with back-to-back kills by Barrow and a double block by Viggars and Meeks giving SIU a 23-21 advantage. UCF battled back to tie the score 24-24, but a kill Hagen and an attack error by Hervey tied the set score at 2-2.

Southern owned the fifth set, jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead behind three kills from Estrada. Back-to-back kills by Barrow gave the Salukis a commanding 8-2 advantage. The Knights got to within four, 13-9 on a service ace, but could get no closer. SIU hit .409 in the frame, tallying 11 kills on 22 attempts and just two errors.

Viggars recorded 34 assists and 10 digs while Hannah Kaminsky added 27 assists and nine digs. Defensive specialist Ashley Edelen registered 10 digs while Mariana Pilon totaled a team-best 19 digs.

The Salukis will return to the court for two matches Saturday, taking on Western Michigan at 12 p.m. before closing out the Saluki Invitational with Northern Arizona at 7 p.m. inside the SIU Arena.