Southern Illinois University
2-11,1-10MVC
Indiana State University
5-7,5-6MVC
Salukis fall in three to Sycamores
03/07/2021 | 4:50:00 | Women's Volleyball
The Southern Illinois University volleyball team suffered a three-set (20-25, 11-25, 23-25) setback to the Indiana State Sycamores in Missouri Valley Conference play Sunday inside Davies Gym.
The Sycamores used a 6-1 run to turn a 10-9 SIU lead into a 16-10 Indiana State advantage in the opening frame. Southern responded with a late 5-1 spurt to bridge the gap to two, 22-20, but the Sycamores scored the final three points to secure the set one win.
Indiana State scored eight of the first nine points in the second set to take a commanding lead from the get-go. A kill by Alex Washington cut SIU's deficit to five, 10-5, but that was as close as the Salukis could get.
The Salukis turned to their bench for a spark in the third set, as Ryan Rednour and Nsia Gittens entered the match late in the second set. Southern's play improved in a third set that featured seven ties and three lead changes. Southern got to within one, 10-9 on a kill by Gittens, but Indiana State scored five of the next six to build its lead back to five at the midway point. SIU made one last run, as it used a 6-1 run to turn a four-point deficit (19-15) into a one-point advantage (21-20).Â
The Sycamores scored three-straight to build a 23-21 edge, but SIU scored back-to-back points courtesy of a kill by Gittens and a double block by Gittens and Emma Baalman to tie the frame at 23-all. Indiana State, however, sided out and then forced a Saluki error to take the set and the match.
Five Saluki hitters recorded at least five kills, led by Washington, who finished with a team-best nine kills. Imani Hartfield hit at a .417 clip with seven kills while Gittens added six kills. Baalman chipped in six kills and Tatum Tornatta finished with five.
Rachel Maguire dished out 34 assists and added eight digs, while Katy Kluge dug out 11 balls.
Indiana State outhit Southern Illinois, .348-to-.196, and served nine aces to SIU's one.
The two teams will tangle again tomorrow at 3 p.m. inside Davies Gym.
