Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
10-9 (2-3MVC)
Loyola University Chicago
12-6 (5-0MVC)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois | 18 | 25 | 20 | 17 | 1 |
| Loyola Chicago | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Salukis upended by Ramblers in four sets
10/11/2019 | 9:15:00 | Women's Volleyball
The Southern Illinois volleyball team dropped a four-set decision (18-25, 25-23, 20-25, 17-25) at Loyola Friday night.
The Salukis (10-9, 2-3 MVC) lost on a Friday for the first time in conference play this season to an upstart Rambler squad that remains undefeated (5-0) in MVC contests. Loyola's block gave Southern fits all night, as the Ramblers tallied nine stuffs and held the Salukis to a .146 hitting percentage. Loyola also out-served SIU with a 7-3 advantage in aces, but the Salukis did commit three less service errors than the Ramblers.
Savannah Sheridan and Hannah Becker paced SIU's attack. Sheridan put down a team-best 15 kills, which marked the 10th time this season she has finished with double-digit terminations. Becker, meanwhile put down 13 kills on 31 swings for her sixth double-digit kill output. Lindsey Paulsen hit at a .600 clip with six kills on 10 swings and no errors.
Defensively, Abi Fitzpatrick led the way with a career-high 19 digs to go along with an ace. Laura Rojas added 15 digs and four assists, while Rachel Maguire tallied four kills, 20 assists, six digs and two blocks.
SIU took its first lead of the match early in the first set (5-3) on back-to-back kills by Sheridan before seven-straight points by the Ramblers forced the Salukis to play catch up. Southern twice got to within two but Loyola used a 5-1 spurt midway through the frame to take a lead it never relinquished.Â
The Salukis jumped out to an early lead in set two, as Southern scored four of the first five points. SIU's lead grew to five, 10-5, on a kill by Becker from Alayna Martin, and the Salukis responded each time the Ramblers attempted to come back. Loyola tied the frame three times, which included at 22-all, but Southern closed with three of the final four points to hand the Ramblers just their second set loss in conference play this season.
Southern never led in either of the final sets, as Loyola used fast starts in both frames to take commanding leads.
The Salukis are back in action against Valparaiso on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 5 p.m.
