Southern Illinois University
5-12,0-4MVC
Illinois State University
6-10,2-2MVC
Salukis fall at Redbirds
10/02/2021 | 8:20:00 | Women's Volleyball
The Southern Illinois University volleyball team fell in three sets (17-25, 21-25, 17-25) to the defending MVC Champion Illinois State Redbirds Saturday evening inside Redbird Arena.
The Salukis hung around with the Redbirds for much of Saturday's three sets, as both schools produced high dig counts thanks to numerous long rallies and hustle plays on both sides of the net. Southern's 53 digs were its most in a three set match this season. The Redbirds did one better, as they tallied 63 digs and held the Salukis to a .092 hitting percentage. Illinois State also hit at a healthy .258 clip.Â
Nataly Garcia led the Salukis with 11 kills and added seven digs. Tatum Tornatta chipped in nine kills, five digs and four blocks while Nsia Gittens added five kills. Anna Jaworksi dished out 25 assists to go along with eight digs while Katy Kluge led the Salukis with 13 digs. Ryan Rednour dug out 10 balls and added an ace.
The Redbirds used a 5-0 run to build a 7-3 lead in the first set. Illinois State gained further separation to go ahead by seven, 13-6. Southern cut its deficit down to four, 14-10 but Illinois State went ahead by seven again, 18-11 and their lead remained seven for much of the frame. The Redbirds back row defense played stingy throughout the opening set, as the first frame featured several long rallies and SIU hit just .023 in the frame.Â
Illinois State forced SIU to play catchup early in the second set, as they got out to a 7-4 lead. Southern later got to within one, 8-7 on an ace by Jaworski but the Redbirds followed with back-to-back points to push their lead to three. Illinois State's lead grew to five, 15-10 at the midway point. The Redbirds led by as many as seven, 20-13 before the Salukis scored seven of the next eight points to cut its deficit down to one, 21-20. The Redbirds, however, scored four of the next five points to take the set and go ahead 2-0. In the third set, Illinois State scored the first six points and led from start to finish to take the set and the match.Â
The Salukis are back in action next weekend when they host the Drake Bulldogs at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8 inside Davies Gym.
