Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
14-17, 6-11MVC
University of Evansville
16-11, 7-9MVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Ill. | 25 | 19 | 23 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| Evansville | 23 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 10 | 2 |
Salukis rally for comeback win over Purple Aces
11/16/2019 | 10:01:00 | Women's Volleyball
The Southern Illinois University volleyball team overcame a 2-1 deficit to stun Evansville, 3-2 (25-23, 19-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-10) Saturday night inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
The Salukis (14-17, 6-11 MVC) used a balanced attack and a fierce defensive effort to snap the Purple Aces' two-game win streak. The Salukis not only broke a 34-year old school record for most total digs in a single-season but recorded their most digs in a match in 29 years in the win. Southern totaled 119 digs, its most since 1990, and five Salukis finished in double figures, including four with 20-plus digs. SIU also notched a season-high 10.5 blocks in the win.
Southern prevailed to win the first set, 25-21, in a frame that featured 10 ties and six lead changes. After Evansville took the second set, 25-19 and squeaked out a 25-23 win in set three, Southern rallied to win set four, 25-21 after it scored four-straight points to break a 16-all tie and never looked back. In the final frame, Southern scored four-straight points to open a four-point lead at the interchange and held on to win their seventh five-set match of the season.
The Salukis, who also broke a 37-year old school record by playing in their 12th five-set match of the season, improved to 7-5 on the season in five-setters.
Four Salukis tallied double-digit kills, led by Rachel Maguire, who notched her NCAA-leading 13th triple-double of the season. The Bloomington, Ill. native finished with 15 kills, 29 assists and 15 digs to go along with five blocks. Savannah Sheridan put down 13 kills and added six digs while Lindsey Paulsen added 10 kills, five digs and five blocks. Fellow middle hitter Emma Baalman hit at a .333 clip and put down 10 kills, five blocks and five digs while Kat Wagner chipped in eight kills.Â
Defensively, the Salukis were led by Laura Rojas, who finished with a team-high 27 digs. Alayna Martin added six kills, 26 assists and 22 digs, while Katy Kluge chipped in 20 digs and two aces. Abi Fitzpatrick (21) and Maguire (15) rounded out the Salukis with double-digit digs.
The Salukis conclude the 2019 season at Missouri State on Friday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m.
