Southern Illinois University
5-8
University of Tulsa
5-4
Salukis battle but fall to Golden Hurricane
09/18/2021 | 8:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
The Southern Illinois University volleyball team dropped a four-set decision (27-29, 25-27, 25-21, 22-25) to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on the final day of the Redhawks Invitational Saturday.
SIU had a balanced attack when it was in system as four different Salukis finished with nine-plus kills and five hitters had at least five kills. Tulsa's block, however, gave Southern some fits, as the Hurricane tallied 10 blocks but Southern was still able to hit .264, its highest hitting percentage in a four-set match this season.Â
SIU's pin hitters, Nsia Gittens and Tatum Tornatta, led the way offensively. Gittens reached double-digits in kills for the eighth time this season as she hit .333 with 17 kills. Tornatta reached double figures in kills for the seventh time this season, as she hit at a .333 clip with 16 kills. Nataly Garcia added 13 kills to go along with eight digs. Margherita Giani hit .313 and chipped in nine kills and a career-best four aces.
Defensively, three Salukis reached double figures in digs. Katy Kluge finished with 20-plus digs for the fourth time already this season, as she dug out 22 balls. Ryan Rednour set a new career-high with 11 digs while Anna Jaworski stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 50 assists, 11 digs, five kills and an ace.
Tulsa used a 3-0 run to take the first lead of more than two points (15-10) in the first set. Southern scored eight of the next 11 points to tie the frame at 18-all. The Salukis continued to score in bunches, as they used a 6-1 run to go ahead 24-19. The Hurricane, however, battled all the way back with their backs against the wall, tying the frame at 24-all and eventually took the set, 29-27.
Set two was a see-saw battle that saw six lead changes and 10 ties. SIU took the first lead of more than two points in the set when it used a 3-1 spurt, highlighted by back-to-back kills from Giani and Gittens to go ahead 14-11. Southern's lead remained three after a double block by Garcia and Giani made it 16-13. Tulsa battled back to tie the frame at 17-all before the Salukis ran off three-straight points and forced the Golden Hurricane to burn a timeout. Gittens again gave SIU its three-point advantage back with a kill to put Southern ahead 23-20. Tulsa scored the next three-straight and it went back and forth until back-to-back points by the Hurricane gave them a 27-25 win.
Southern rebounded in the third set, as they rallied from a 5-3 hole with a 7-1 spurt to take an 11-6 advantage. SIU's lead ballooned to eight before Tulsa rallied to tie the frame at 21-all. The Salukis remained composed and scored the final four points to take the third set, 25-21.
The Salukis found themselves trailing 18-15 in the fourth set but scored six of the next seven points to take a 21-19 lead. Tulsa, however, scored six of the final seven points to dash any hopes of SIU forcing a fifth set.
SIU opens conference play next weekend when it hosts Valparaiso on Friday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. inside Davies Gym.
