Recap | Salukis avoid doubleheader sweep with nail-biting win over Memphis

Friday, September 6

Carbondale, IL

10 AM

Southern Illinois University

3-1,0-0MVC

Jackson State

3-2,0-0SWAC

Jackson St.

Southern Ill.

Photo by: Sam Bischel

Recap | Salukis avoid doubleheader sweep with nail-biting win over Memphis

09/06/2024 | 10:30:00 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Tournament Central Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Jordan Kruse, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois Women's Volleyball completed a split on day one of the Saluki Bash, losing 3-1 to Jackson State and winning a five-set thriller over Memphis in the nightcap on Friday. The matches marked the first two of three the Salukis will play, with the final coming against Eastern Illinois on Saturday.

Game 1
16 kills from Kelly Franklin and 20 assists from Anna Jaworski and Ema Stermenska would not be enough for Southern (3-1) in its first match versus Jackson State.

Set one went to deuces, and the Tigers (3-2) pulled out a 29-27 victory to claim a 1-0 lead.

A big end to set two from Larissa Seger evened the contest up, but the Salukis would never claim a lead after the first point of sets three and four.

The 3-1 victory gave the Tigers their first-ever triumph over SIU.

Game 2
Kelly Franklin set another career-high in kills with 19 in game two, where the Salukis nearly squandered a 2-0 lead against Memphis. Franklin, Annabelle Sulish (12), Larissa Seger (12), and Ella Swansiger (11) all notched double-digit kills. Anna Jaworski and Ema Stermenska once again matched set totals with 25 each.

The Salukis (4-1) took advantage of Memphis' (2-3) mistakes in set one, cruising to a 25-19 victory.

Set two brought another deuces situation, but Seger's clutch hitting from the middle sealed the set victory, and the Salukis looked to send the Tigers home early.

Headed by Sean Burdette, father of SIU middle hitter Brinley Burdette, Memphis rallied in sets three and four to send the match to a winner-take-all fifth set.

With momentum, the Tigers put together a 7-3 lead early in the fifth set. The Salukis rallied, and after the match was sent to deuces once again, Seger and Franklin made their marks and closed out the victory for Southern.

UP NEXT
The Salukis will finish the Saluki Bash with a 1:30 p.m. first serve against Eastern Illinois on Saturday. For more information on the tournament, check out the Tournament Central page.

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