Southern Illinois University
2-12,1-11MVC
Indiana State University
6-7,6-6MVC
Salukis drop four set decision to Sycamores
03/08/2021 | 5:37:00 | Women's Volleyball
The Southern Illinois University volleyball team fell in four sets (25-18, 21-25, 12-25, 13-25) to the Indiana State Sycamores in Missouri Valley Conference play on Monday, March 8.
Southern came out on fire in the first set, as it went with a new starting lineup that featured freshman Nsia Gittens. The move paid immediate dividends, as the Saluki offense fired on all cylinders. SIU hit an astounding .577 in its set one win and held Indiana State to a .179 hitting efficiency. Southern used a 5-1 run to break a 4-all tie and never trailed after that.Â
The Salukis battled throughout a back and forth second set. Indiana State scored nine of the first 11 points in the frame. Southern countered with eight of the next nine points to tie the frame at 10-all. The Sycamores, however, scored three-straight points from there and the Salukis could never get any closer than that.
SIU was forced to play catch up in the third set after Indiana State ripped off four of the first five points. Southern trimmed its deficit down to three, 13-10, with Alex Washington at the service line, but the Sycamores fired off six-straight points and cruised from there.
Indiana State was able to once again gain separation early in the fourth frame. Southern trailed by one, 5-4, but the Sycamores scored 11 of the next 13 points to open up a double-digit advantage and seal the win.
The Salukis had relatively good balance offensively but were plagued by hitting errors. Southern had four hitters with at least six kills, led by Gittens' career-high 13 terminations. The Salukis, however, hit .133, which included -.097 in the third set. SIU did its part to limit Indiana State's attack, as Southern held the Sycamores to a .250 hitting percentage and tallied 5.0 blocks.
SIU's youth movement continues to show promise. Four of Southern's six starters were freshmen and they accounted for 76-percent (36-of-43) of SIU's kills. Gittens led the Saluki attack with 13 kills to go along with five digs, while Alex Washington finished with 10 kills and seven digs. Tatum Tornatta chipped in seven kills and Imani Hartfield put down six kills on just 14 swings.
Defensively, SIU had two players with double-digit digs, led by Katy Kluge's 17 digs. Ryan Rednour tallied a career-high 10 digs while Rachel Maguire finished with 36 assists and nine digs.
Southern is back in action on Sunday, March 14 when it travels to Evansville, Ind. to take on the Purple Aces. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
