The Salukis (1-1) won the second matchup against the Memphis Tigers (1-1) 3-2 after overcoming a 4-1 loss on Jan. 22. 

Although the Tigers led the Salukis in kills (72-63) and service aces (8-5), SIU secured the victory. 

Redshirt senior middle hitter Emma Baalman and freshman outside hitter Tatum Tornatta led Southern in kills with 13 each and Baalman led the team in blocks with four.

Advertisement

Memphis gained a four-point lead early in the first set, 7-3, after a service ace from senior libero Kinkaid Padgett.

The Tigers expanded their lead, 10-5, from kills by freshman outside hitter Sam Drewry and grad. student middle hitter Elizabeth Orf.

The Salukis fought to close the score gap with kills from freshman middle hitter Imani Hartfield and redshirt junior outside hitter Hannah Becker, but Memphis maintained the lead.

Southern closed the lead to two points after a kill from Baalman and a bad set from sophomore outside hitter Gigi Crescenzo making the score 15-13.

Although SIU continued scoring throughout the end of the first set, Memphis won, 25-22, from a kill by junior middle hitter Miaya Smith.

The Salukis started the second set with a three-point run with scoring from redshirt freshman outside hitter Alex Washington and redshirt senior outside hitter Savannah Sheridan.

Memphis tied the score 4-4 with a kill from Crescenzo.

Advertisement*

SIU gained a three-point lead, 9-6, from kills by Baalman and Tornatta and attack errors from the Tigers.

Memphis closed the gap, 10-10, with a four-point run with scoring from Crescenzo, Drewry and junior setter Sabrina Bianco.

The Tigers took the lead for the first time in the second set 15-11, after several attack errors from Southern.

Memphis continued lengthening its lead, 20-15, nearing the end of the second set.

The Salukis closed the gap to 20-19 after kills from Becker, Baalman and Tornatta.

SIU won the second set, 27-25, after tying the score at 24-24, making the game 1-1.

Both teams began the third set by trading points, but Southern gained the lead, 6-5, after a kill from senior setter/hitter Rachel Maguire.

Memphis took the lead, 10-7, from kills by Crescenzo and Smith.

Neither team was able to gain a large lead throughout the third set with both teams gaining and regaining the lead several times.

Southern narrowly beat the Tigers, 25-23, winning the third set and gaining a 2-1 lead.

The fourth set started similarly to the third set with neither team gaining a big lead. Both teams stayed within a couple of points of each other throughout the set

Memphis took the lead, 17-13, after kills by Crescenzo and freshman right side hitter Autumn Hamiliton.

The Tigers continued increasing their lead, 20-15, towards the end of the fourth set.

Memphis won the set, 25-20, with two kills from junior middle blocker Andrea O’Connor, splitting the game 2-2.

The Salukis started the final set with a three-point run with kills from Hartfield and Tornatta.

SIU increased their lead, 7-4, with a kill and block from Becker.

The score was tied, 9-9, after a service ace from Crescenzo.

The Salukis won the set, 15-13, from kills by Becker, Tornatta, Sheridan and Hartfield winning the game 3-2.

Staff reporter Janae Mosby can be reached at jmosby@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter at @mosbyj.

To stay up to date with all your southern Illinois news, follow the Daily Egyptian on Facebook and Twitter.

Advertisement