The Saluki volleyball team (9-5, 0-1) lost its first Missouri Valley Conference match 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 17-25, 21-25) Friday night against Northern Iowa (7-7, 1-0).

SIU’s offense hit for a .178 attack efficiency, well below its season average of .241. 

“We were just got out of system,” junior setter Hannah Kaminsky said. “Our ball control wasn’t there tonight. We knew [Norther Iowa] is always good team. They don’t give up.” 

Kaminsky tallied 24 assists on 58 attempts. 

Senior middle hitter Taylor Pippen remained on the sidelines with a sore right shoulder. She has missed the last five matches.

Sophomore Alex Rosignol and junior McKenzie Dorris were called on to replace Pippen. They combined for a .000 attack percentage on 20 attempts, and averaged a combined 1.2 kill per set.

“We’re far better than that,” coach Justin Ingram said. “Some of it just had to do with our effort. It’s incredibly disappointing that was the product when we know there is a better product we can produce.”

Sophomore outside hitters Andrea Estrada and Abby Barrow, had a combined 29 kills. Estrada had 17 on 40 attempts with six errors, and Barrow had 12 on 37 attempts with four errors.

“We prepared for something that just didn’t happen,” Estrada said. “We have to bounce back quickly tomorrow — there are no bad teams in the MVC.” 

The Salukis play Drake at 7 p.m. Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa.

Evan Jones can be reached at [email protected] or on twitter @EvanJones_DE.