Southern Illinois University
5-20,0-12MVC
Bradley University
13-11,9-4MVC
Braves defeat Salukis in three sets
10/30/2021 | 7:44:00 | Women's Volleyball
CARBONDALE, Ill. --Â The Southern Illinois University volleyball team fell in three sets to the Bradley Braves (18-25, 16-25, 21-25) Saturday night in Missouri Valley Conference play inside Davies Gym.
The Braves, who have now won four-straight matches, outhit the Salukis, .270-to-.082 and only trailed five times in its three-set win. Despite the loss, Southern had several bright spots. It tallied seven blocks, which were its most in a three set match this season. The Salukis also served up five aces and recorded just one service error, which was a season-low.
The Salukis were led offensively by Nsia Gittens. Gittens finished with nine kills on 27 swings and added a pair of blocks. Tatum Tornatta put down seven kills while Bailey Neuberger added four kills, two digs and solo block. Defensively, Katy Kluge tallied 14 digs and two aces to lead Southern's defensive efforts.
Bradley broke a 4-all tie in the first set with five-straight points to force a SIU timeout. Southern came out of the timeout and scored three-straight to cut its deficit down to two, but Bradley countered with eight of the next nine points to build a 17-8 advantage and forced Southern to use its second timeout. The Salukis got to within five twice, lastly at 23-18 on a kill by Garcia, but it was too little, too late as the Braves took the opening set, 25-18.
SIU raced out of the gate in the second set, as it scored five of the first six points. The Braves, however, answered with 11-straight points to build a 12-5 lead. The Salukis were again forced to play catch up, and clawed their way back to within five, 14-9 on a kill by Giani, but Bradley responded with five-straight points to effectively put the set out of reach.
Southern scored three of the first four points of the third set, highlighted by an ace by Kluge. After the Braves countered with a 3-1 spurt of their own to tie the frame at 4-all, Southern used back-to-back blocks from Giani and Gittens to build a 6-4 edge. Southern extended its lead to four, 11-7 on a kill by Tornatta but the Braves used a 6-1 run to take a 13-12 lead. Southern tied the frame at 13-all and 14-all on kills by Neuberger but Bradley scored five of the next six points to take a 19-15 lead. Southern got to within one, 21-20, but the Braves closed the frame with a 4-1 run to take the set and the match.
The Salukis are back in action on Monday, Nov. 1 when they travel to Evansville to take on the Aces. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
