Saturday, October 23
Valparaiso, IN
5 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
5-18,0-10MVC
0
at
3
Valparaiso University
15-6,6-4MVC
1
2
3
F
Southern Ill.
18
16
19
0
Valparaiso
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Will Becque
Salukis fall in three to Beacons
10/23/2021 | 10:50:00 | Women's Volleyball
The Southern Illinois University volleyball team fell in three sets to the Valparaiso Beacons (18-25, 16-25, 19-25) Saturday evening in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Nataly Garcia finished a kill shy of a kill-dig double-double, as she went for nine kills and 10 digs. Tatum Tornatta added seven kills and Nsia Gittens chipped in five of her own. Margherita Giani had another productive night both offensively and defensively, as she tallied five kills and four blocks.
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Defensively, Katy Kluge led the way with 19 digs while MacKenzie Houser added 11 digs.
After both teams traded the first four points of the opening set, Valpo scored six of the next seven points to gain early separation and forced SIU to take a timeout. Out of the timeout, Southern dialed four-straight points to get to within one, 8-7. The Beacons, however, answered with 10 of the next 12 points to effectively put the set to bed. SIU used a late 6-1 run to get to within four, 22-18 but that was as close as they could get.
After the Beacons scored six of the first seven points in the second set, the Salukis answered with four-straight points, highlighted by back-to-back blocks from Giani, Tornatta and Garcia. Valpo responded with four-straight points of its own to push its lead back to five. SIU gnawed it's way back to within two, 11-9, but Valpo countered with 11 of the next 14 points to put the set out of reach.
The Beacons raced out of the gate and scored five of the first six points of the third set. Southern answered with 11 of the next 15 points to take a 12-9 lead, highlighted by 7-0 run with Garcia at the service line. Valpo rattled off four of the five points to tie the frame at 13-all. The Beacons took the first two-point lead for either team after that point at 18-16. Southern got back to within one on three occasions, lastly at 20-19, but the Beacons scored set's final five points to take the frame and the match.
The Salukis return to Davies Gym next weekend when they host Illinois State on Friday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. before taking on Bradley at home on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m.
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Nataly Garcia finished a kill shy of a kill-dig double-double, as she went for nine kills and 10 digs. Tatum Tornatta added seven kills and Nsia Gittens chipped in five of her own. Margherita Giani had another productive night both offensively and defensively, as she tallied five kills and four blocks.
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Defensively, Katy Kluge led the way with 19 digs while MacKenzie Houser added 11 digs.
After both teams traded the first four points of the opening set, Valpo scored six of the next seven points to gain early separation and forced SIU to take a timeout. Out of the timeout, Southern dialed four-straight points to get to within one, 8-7. The Beacons, however, answered with 10 of the next 12 points to effectively put the set to bed. SIU used a late 6-1 run to get to within four, 22-18 but that was as close as they could get.
After the Beacons scored six of the first seven points in the second set, the Salukis answered with four-straight points, highlighted by back-to-back blocks from Giani, Tornatta and Garcia. Valpo responded with four-straight points of its own to push its lead back to five. SIU gnawed it's way back to within two, 11-9, but Valpo countered with 11 of the next 14 points to put the set out of reach.
The Beacons raced out of the gate and scored five of the first six points of the third set. Southern answered with 11 of the next 15 points to take a 12-9 lead, highlighted by 7-0 run with Garcia at the service line. Valpo rattled off four of the five points to tie the frame at 13-all. The Beacons took the first two-point lead for either team after that point at 18-16. Southern got back to within one on three occasions, lastly at 20-19, but the Beacons scored set's final five points to take the frame and the match.
The Salukis return to Davies Gym next weekend when they host Illinois State on Friday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. before taking on Bradley at home on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m.
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Team Stats
SIU
VALPO
Kills
31
44
Errors
17
17
Attempts
106
118
Hitting %
.132
.229
Points
36
56
Assists
30
38
Aces
0
6
Blocks
5
6
Game Leaders
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ Women's VolleyballMiddle Hitter
/ Women's VolleyballOutside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Defensive Specialist
/ Women's Volleyball
Defensive Specialist
/ Women's VolleyballOutside Hitter
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