Southern Illinois University
2-10, 1-0MVC
Bradley University
7-8, 0-1MVC
Saluki Volleyball opens MVC play with four-set win over Bradley
09/22/2017 | 10:54:00 | Women's Volleyball
Salukis win conference opener for second-straight season and fifth time in last six years.
Three Salukis recorded double-digit kills as the Southern Illinois University volleyball team defeated the Bradley Braves in four sets, 27-29, 25-17, 25-16, 25-22 Friday night in Peoria, Ill.
SIU improves to 2-10 overall and moves to 1-0 in MVC play, winning its conference opener for the second-straight season and fifth time in the last six years. The Salukis have now won eight-straight over Bradley (7-8, 0-1 MVC), and SIU head coach Kari Thompson improves to 3-0 in her career against the Braves.
"A win to start Valley play is great, and even tougher to do it on the road," Thompson said. "Bradley really battled and had a great home court atmosphere so we had to fight hard for every point. It was great to finish the sets strong and build confidence in what we are doing, and I'm very proud of the way we did that tonight."
The Salukis recorded 13.0 blocks in the four-set win, which is the second-most in the Valley this season. Southern struggled early, as it hit just .056 in the opening set, and the Braves rallied to take the first frame, 29-27. Â SIU hit .281 the rest of the way though, and Southern did so by keeping the Bradley defense guessing. SIU's setters Alayna Martin and Rachel Maguire kept SIU's middles involved throughout the match, as Kolby Meeks and Patience Brown combined for 20 of SIU's 56 (35.7%) kills.Â
Brown, who was celebrating her 20th birthday, had her most productive match as a Saluki, as she tallied season-bests in kills (14) and attempts (26) and added two blocks.Â
The Bloomgington, Ill. native ignited the Saluki offense whenever it needed a spark. After recording her fifth kill of the match to give Southern a 18-16 lead in the second set, Brown served four-straight points to stake SIU to a 22-16 lead. All told, Southern closed the set on a 7-1 run to win the frame, 25-17.
Libero Ashley Edelen tied a career-best with 24 digs and added two service aces. With Edelen serving, SIU broke open set three by getting ahead, 14-9, and she later served back-to-back points that got Southern to set point during its emphatic, 25-16 set three win.
A back and forth fourth set went the Salukis way, as the Braves led 15-14 at the media timeout. Back-to-back kills by Barrow tied the set, 19-19, and Maguire staked Southern to a 20-19 lead after she caught the defense napping with a setter dump. Edelen's second ace gave SIU a 23-21 edge and an attack error by the Braves on match point sealed the win for the Salukis.
Andrea Estrada had 11 kills and 21 digs for her second double-double of the season, while Maggie Nedoma added 10 kills on 34 swings. Abby Barrow, who is from nearby Metamora, Ill. and was playing in front of friends and family, narrowly missed her third career double-double, as she finished with nine kills and 12 digs. She also added a pair of block assists. Meeks added six kills and a team-best four blocks.
SIU will now shift its attention to Illinois State, who ended Southern's season a year ago in the first round of the MVC Tournament. First serve in Bloomington, Ill. between ISU and SIU is set for 7 p.m. CT.
