Volleyball Wins a Thriller Versus Rival SEMO in Saluki Bash Opener

Friday, September 4

Carbondale, IL

12 PM

Southern Illinois University

4-0,0-0MVC

SEMO

1-4,0-0OVC

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
Southeast Mo. St.	22	25	14	25	11	2
Southern Ill.	25	17	25	20	15	3

McKenzie Moeller serves a ball in the match.

Lillian Dempkey serves a ball in the match.

The team on the court huddles and celebrates after a point.

Julia Laidig leads the bench in celebration after a point.

Jillian Shaneyfelt tosses the ball in the air prior to her serve.

Ella Swansiger swings and attacks a ball.

The bench celebrates and laughs after a point.

Chloe Anderson screams in excitement after a point.

The team on the floor screams and celebrates after a point.

The Sandoval pep band smiles for a picture.

Grey Dawg dances in front of the Sandoval pep band.

The bench throws their hands up and celebrates after a point.

The team on the floor celebrates after a point.

Jillian Shaneyfelt throws her hands up in celebration.

Jillain Shaneyfelt and Isabella Del Real double high five after a point.

McKenzie Moeller screams in celebration.

The bench holds up dog ears on the last point of the match.

Alexandria Arrington attacks a ball for the final point of the match.

The team jumps and celebrates after winning the match.

The team high fives SEMO under the net after the match.

The team breaks down the huddle after the victory.

The Sandoval pep band and Grey Dawg smile for a picture.

Lillian Dempkey prepares to hit a ball in warmups.

Isabella Del Real bumps a ball in warmups.

The team breaks down a huddle during warmups.

Members of the team stand by and watch the opponent's warmups.

The team stands in the dark as they watch their hype video.

The team stands and watches their hype video.

The team huddles right before the match.

The team breaks down the final pregame huddle.

Jillian Shaneyfelt and Carlota Mora high five.

Jillian Shaneyfelt dribbles the ball prior to her serve.

Chloe Anderson jumps up to block a ball.

The team on the floor huddles after a point.

Ella McFarland sets a ball in the match.

Chloe Anderson and Ella Swansiger jump up for a tandem block.

Head Coach Brittany Harry talks to her team during a timeout.

The team and Head Coach Brittany Harry discuss during a timeout.

Jillian Shaneyfelt tosses a ball in the air prior to her serve.

Head Coach Brittany Harry talks with senior libero Jillian Shaneyfelt.

Carlota Mora screams in excitement after a point.

Beatriz Piaia swings her arm back to spike a ball.

The team celebrates in excitement after a point.

Volleyball Wins a Thriller Versus Rival SEMO in Saluki Bash Opener

09/04/2026 | 3:35:00 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Corey Crombar, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The opening match of the 2026 Saluki Bash was the definition of a thriller. After the Salukis won the first set, the Redhawks took set two. Southern took set three and SEMO took set four. It was the kill by Alexandria Arrington that won the Salukis the fifth set and ultimately the match.

The 36th all-time match between the Salukis and Redhawks was one to remember. Both teams came out swinging and looked ready to battle.

The first set was full of one to three point swings for each team. SEMO started the match with a 3-0 lead, but that didn't slow down the Salukis. Despite a slow start to the set, the Salukis stayed determined and committed to each other - and it showed. What set the Salukis apart in the first set was their .300 hitting percentage, to SEMO's .167. The Salukis ultimately took the set 25-22, sealed by a kill from Chloe Anderson.

Set two left much to be desired for the Dawgs. The set started like any other close volleyball match. However, the Salukis hit a lull at eight points, allowing SEMO to grow a comfortable seven-point lead. The Redhawks never looked back from that moment on. The Redhawks were on the attack and had the Salukis with their backs against the wall in the set. What ended the set was a service error from SIU. SEMO emerged victorious in the set, 25-17.

The Salukis were eager to get back on track in set three - and they did just that. The Salukis were nothing short of dominant in the third set. Although the set started similarly to the first two - with back-and-forth - the Salukis, on the back of a seven-point run, grew a substantial eleven-point lead. The Redhawks took the next point, but it was Carlota Mora, off an Ella McFarland assist, who ended the set for SIU. The set ended 25-14 in favor of the Dawgs.

Southern looked to end it in set four, but fell shy of the twenty-five-point mark needed to take a set. This set was yet again incredibly close and back-and-forth. However, it was small two and three-point runs by SEMO that gave them the advantage over the Salukis in the set. Southern fell in set four by a score of 25-20.

It all came down to set five - Southern's first of the season. SEMO began the set with a small lead, but the Dawgs fought back. Southern looked determined to win. Not only that, but they looked confident and played with passion. The set was tied at eleven apiece, but it was all Dawgs from that point forward. A game-ending four-point run sealed the deal for SIU, capped off by an Alexandria Arrington kill.

Leading the Salukis statistically was Ella Swansiger with 15 kills. Lillian Dempkey fueled those kills with 26 assists. Ella McFarland followed suit with 21 assists. Chloe Anderson and Jillian Shaneyfelt led the defensive charge with 7 blocks and 32 digs respectively. Anderson and Shaneyfelt also had one service ace each.

After the match, Head Coach Brittany Harry said, "Winning our home opener in Banterra in front of this crowd was incredible, but doing it in five sets shows the true character of this team. We faced some adversity in those middle frames, but our players stayed resilient, locked in and executed when the pressure was highest in the fifth. This is a massive building block for our season. Jillian played absolutely insane and Ella Swans was lights out again. Really proud of the fight in this bunch."

UP NEXT
The Salukis will face off with the Warriors from Merrimack College tonight at 7 p.m. at the Banterra Center. They take on the Saint Louis Billikens tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. to wrap up the Saluki Bash as well.

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on X (@SIU_Volleyball), Instagram (@SIU_Volleyball) and Facebook (SalukiVolleyball). Fans can also download the Salukis Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.