Southern Illinois University
5-9,0-1MVC
Valparaiso University
10-2,1-0MVC
Salukis fall in four to Beacons
09/24/2021 | 9:23:00 | Women's Volleyball
The Southern Illinois University volleyball team fell in four sets to the Valparaiso Beacons (18-25, 25-21, 21-25, 17-25) to open Missouri Valley Conference play Friday night inside Davies Gym.
Tatum Tornatta and Nataly Garcia led the way offensively for the Salukis, as they put down 12 kills apiece. Tornatta added a career-high six digs and two blocks while Garcia notched her fourth kill-dig double-double of the season with 11 digs to go along with two blocks. Margherita Giani also reached double figures with 10 kills and added five blocks and five digs.
Defensively, Anna Jaworski led the way with 16 digs to go along with 34 assists. It marked the fourth assist-dig double-double of the season for the Naperville, Ill. native. Katy Kluge chipped in 10 digs and six assists.
Valpo scored the first six points of the opening set and never trailed in its 25-17 set one win. Southern used a 3-0 spurt to cut its deficit to two, 17-15, but the Beacons scored eight of the set's final 11 points to take the frame.Â
Southern flipped the script in set two, as it hit .368 in the second frame and never trailed. The Salukis sided out at an impressive 71-percent clip in the second frame and seemed to stifle Valpo any time the Beacons appeared ready to go on a run. After Valpo used an ace to get to within two, 18-16, SIU scored six of the next seven points to open up a seven point lead and effectively put the set away.
Valpo's block was the difference in the third frame, as the Beacons tallied six blocks in the set and held the Salukis to a .038 hitting percentage. Tornatta kept the Salukis in it with five of her 12 kills coming in the third set. Her fourth kill of the set tied the score at 14-all but Valpo answered with four-straight points. Tornatta's fifth kill of the set coupled with a Valpo error got SIU to within one, 21-20, but the Beacons scored four of the final five points of the set to go ahead 2-1.
In the fourth set, the Beacons used a 7-1 run to turn what was a one-point advantage into a seven-point lead. The Salukis clawed their way to get to within four, 20-16 but it was too little, too late as Valpo countered with a 5-1 run to close out the set and match.
The Salukis are back in action Saturday night when they take on the Loyola Ramblers at 5 p.m. inside Davies Gym.
