Coming off their first MVC win over Valparaiso University on Feb. 14, the first time SIU defeated Valparaiso on the road, the Saluki volleyball team suffered a 3-1 loss on Feb. 15.

Southern (2-6, 1-5 MVC) started off strong, winning the first set 25-20, but Valpo rallied to win sets two, three, and four for a 3-1 defeat.

Valpo (3-4, 2-4 MVC) led the Salukis in kills (52-42), digs (89-72), blocks (9-6) and service aces (7-4).

Junior middle hitter Haley Hart and senior outside hitter Jaclyn Bulmahn led Valpo in kills with 14 and redshirt junior outside hitter Hannah Becker led the Salukis in kills with 11. Hart also led Valpo in blocks (6) and points (18.5).

The Salukis started the first set with an early 4-1 lead from two kills by freshman outside hitter Tatum Tornatta and errors from Valpo.

Valpo fought to decrease Southern’s lead with service aces from junior outside hitter Jillie Grant and Hart, a kill from Bulmahn and several errors by SIU making the score 10-8.

The Salukis continued to increase their lead, 14-9, after kills by Tornatta and redshirt freshman outside hitter Alex Washington and attack errors from Valpo.

Valpo decreased the score gap to 16-15, after kills from Bulmahn and senior middle hitter Peyton McCarthy and service ace from Grant.

SIU was the first team to reach 20 points after two kills from Becker.

Southern ended the first set with a kill from Tornatta and service ace from Washington, winning the set 25-20. 

Valpo started the second set with a 3-0 run, from kills by sophomore outside hitter Maddy Boyer and Hart and an attack error from SIU’s freshman outside hitter Taylor Morgan.

Valpo increased their lead, 6-2, after a few attack errors from Morgan and a kill by sophomore outside hitter Bella Ravotto.

Southern brought the gap down to two points, 8-6, from errors by Valpo, a service ace from junior defensive specialist Katy Kluge and a kill from freshman middle hitter Imani Hartfield.

Valpo’s lead increased to 12-6, after two kills from Bulmahn and a block by McCarthy and Boyer.

Valpo’s lead continued to increase late in the second set with kills from Grant, Boyer and Hart, making the score 18-12.

The Salukis fought back and decreased the lead to five points after kills from Becker and Hartfield, bringing the score to 23-18. 

Despite SIU’s efforts, Valpo won the second set 25-19, after a kill from Hart tying the game 1-1.

Valpo began the third set early with a 4-1 lead with kills from Grant and Boyer and a service ace from senior defensive specialist Melissa Flynders.

Both teams traded kills in the beginning of the third set, but Valpo kept the lead 9-6.

Kills from Boyer and Ravotto and a block from Hart and Grant increased Valpo’s lead to 12-7.

Valpo continued scoring near the end of the third set with kills from Bulmahn and a block by Hart.

The Salukis cut the score gap to three points, 18-15, with kills from Becker and redshirt freshman outside hitter Bailey Neuberger and a block by Becker and redshirt senior middle hitter Emma Baalman.

Valpo was the first to hit 20 points in this set with a kill by McCarthy, followed by a kill from Boyer.

A four-point run from Valpo sealed the victory 25-19, with scoring from Ravotto and Bulmahn. Giving them the lead in the game 2-1. 

The Salukis took an early 3-1 lead in the fourth set from attack errors by Valpo and a kill from Neuberger.

Scoring went back-and-forth between the two teams, with neither gaining more than a one point lead. Then, a four-point run from the Salukis gave them the lead 9-6.

Valpo tied the score 10-10 after kills from Boyer and Bulmahn.

Two service aces from senior libero Rylee Cookerly, two kills by Hart and a kill by Bulmahn gave Valpo the lead 15-10.

A series of scoring runs from Valpo secured the 25-15 victory, winning the game 3-1.

The Salukis will take the court again on Feb. 21 against the University of Northern Iowa at 1 p.m.

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

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