Southern Illinois University
5-24,0-16MVC
Missouri State University
15-13,6-10MVC
Salukis fall in three to Bears
11/12/2021 | 10:27:00 | Women's Volleyball
The Southern Illinois University volleyball team fell to the Missouri State Bears in three sets (17-25, 18-25, 19-25) Friday night inside JQH Arena.
Nataly Garcia led the way offensively for the Salukis with a team-best 11 kills. Margherita Giani hit .353 with nine kills on just 17 swings while Tatum Tornatta added six kills of her own. Peyton Plant and Anna Jaworski again split setting duties as Plant dished out 17 assists while Jaworski notched her 10th assist-dig double-double of the season with 13 assists and 11 digs.
Defensively, Katy Kluge led the Salukis with 15 digs to go along with three aces and two assists. Jaworski joined Kluge in double figures with 11. Giani and Alex Washington, meanwhile, joined Kluge as Salukis to record multiple aces in the match, as they each served two apiece.Â
Missouri State used nine-straight points to break a 4-all tie and pull away in the first set. The Salukis cut their deficit to five, 20-15, but that was as close as they could get.
The Bears scored the first four points, and eight of the first ten points of the second set to grab a commanding lead to open the frame. The Salukis diligently chipped away, clawing their way back to within four, 17-13 on a kill by Garcia. Southern then used a 4-1 run to draw to within one, 18-17, but Missouri State scored seven of the final eight points to take the frame.
The Salukis roared out of the gate in the third set, as they scored six of the first seven points of the frame. The Bears countered with seven of the next nine points to tie the frame at 8-all, and the score remained tied at 13-all until the Bears gained separation with five-straight points. Forced to play catch up, the Salukis got to within three twice, lastly at 22-19, but it was too little, too late as Missouri State sealed the win to take the set and the match.
The Salukis return home next weekend for their final homestead of the 2021 season. SIU will host Evansville on Friday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m. before taking on Indiana State on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. for Senior Day.Â
