Southern Illinois University
1-1,0-0MVC
University of Memphis
1-1,0-0AAC
Salukis defeat Tigers in five sets for first win of 2020-21 season
01/23/2021 | 8:56:00 | Women's Volleyball
Five Salukis put down double-digit kills for SIU's first win over Memphis since 2012.
The Southern Illinois University volleyball team rallied from an early deficit to stun Memphis, 3-2 (22-25, 27-25, 25-23, 20-25, 15-13) Saturday night inside the Larry O. Finch Center.
The Salukis used a balanced attack and a tenacious defensive effort to defeat the Tigers for the first time since 2012. Southern had five attackers record double-digit kills for the first time in five years while Southern's defense finished with 96 digs and nine blocks.
After Memphis took the opening set, 25-22, Southern fought back to win each of the next two frames. Southern rallied from down by as many as five in the second set to take the frame, 27-25, and prevailed to win a third set that featured 14 ties and eight lead changes. The Tigers broke a 12-all tie in the fourth set with a 5-1 spurt and never looked back to force a decisive fifth set. In the final frame, SIU hit at a .304 clip to seal their first win of the 2020-21 season.
Five Salukis tallied double-digit kills, led by Tatum Tornatta, who put down a career-high 13 kills and added three blocks. Emma Baalman hit at a .393 clip with 12 kills to just one error while Hannah Becker notched her first career kill-dig double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs. Imani Hartfield hit .357 with 12 kills while Savannah Sheridan tallied 10 kills and seven digs.
Defensively, the Salukis were led by Katy Kluge, who finished with a career-high 25 digs to go along with four assists and two aces. MacKenzie Houser added 18 digs in her second collegiate match, while Rachel Maguire added a career-high 50 assists and 11 digs.
The Salukis open conference play on Saturday, January 30 when they host the Missouri State Bears. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
