Southern Illinois University
0-1,0-0MVC
University of Memphis
1-0,0-0AAC
Salukis fall in season opener at Memphis, 3-1
01/22/2021 | 9:48:00 | Women's Volleyball
The Southern Illinois University volleyball team fell in four sets at Memphis (13-25, 21-25, 25-18, 21-25) in it's season opener Friday night in the inaugural match at the Larry O. Finch Center.
The Salukis, who were playing in their first match in 427 days, got off to an understandably slow start, as the Tigers took the first two sets. Southern rallied with an emphatic 25-18 win in set three and battled with Memphis in the fourth set, but the home team ultimately prevailed.
The Tigers (1-0) opened the contest on a 6-1 run and scored 10 of the match's first 12 points. Memphis continued to score in bunches, as it increased its lead to 15-3. SIU got to within nine, 16-7, but that was as close as it could get. The Tigers were able to hit at a .448 clip in the first set while they limited the Salukis to a .103 hitting efficiency.Â
In a second set that featured eight ties and four lead changes, the Salukis took a narrow 8-7 lead on a kill by Kyra Hunter. Neither team led by more than two until an ace gave the Tigers a 17-14 advantage. From there, Memphis scored three of the next four points to increase its cushion to 20-15. Southern scored four of the next five points to get to within two, but that was as close as they could get.
It was all SIU in the third set. Southern limited its mistakes and kept the ball off the floor, as it hit .345 in the frame with just one attack error while it held Memphis to a .108 hitting percentage and forced nine attack errors. SIU used three-straight points with Emma Baalman at the service line to break a 7-all tie and take a 10-7 lead. Memphis answered with three of the next four points to get to within one, 11-10, but the Salukis scored four-straight points and never looked back to take their first set of the 2020-21 season.
Momentum appeared to favor the Salukis in the fourth set, as the visitors raced out to a 5-0 lead. Memphis, however, battled back to tie the frame at 10-all but it was SIU that led 15-14 at the midway point of the frame. The Tigers tied the set for the ninth time at 20-all and from there scored five of the final six points to seal the 3-1 win.
The Salukis had good distribution throughout their offense, as six different hitters tallied six or more kills. Baalman put down a team-high 10 kills on 26 swings while Tatum Tornatta put down eight kills in her collegiate debut. Bailey Neuberger added seven kills and a career-high 14 digs while Hannah Becker, Savannah Sheridan and Imani Hartfield each chipped in six kills.
Rachel Maguire piloted the attack and totaled 41 assists, 11 digs and three aces while Katy Kluge dug out a team-best 18 balls.
The Salukis are back in action tomorrow against the Tigers. First serve is set for 5 p.m.
