The Saluki volleyball team (2-10, 1-9 MVC) fell 3-1 in the second game of the series against the Bradley Braves (7-3, 7-3 MVC) on Mar. 1.

Bradley took the first two sets and SIU managed to come back and win the third. Unfortunately, Southern was not able to keep the momentum and lost the fourth set 25-19.

The Braves led the Salukis in kills (62-54), service aces (10-4), total blocks (4.0-3.0) and digs (71-66).

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Freshman outside hitter Tatum Tornatta led the Salukis in kills with 13 and sophomore right side Karagan Coggin led the Braves with 17. 

After trading points with Bradley in the beginning of the first set, the Salukis took a 5-3 lead from two attack errors from Bradley’s junior outside hitter Hannah Thompson.

Bradley took the lead 10-8, after a four-point run with kills from freshman outside hitter Doga Topcicek and Coggin and a service ace from sophomore libero Serena Sparks.

A 6-1 scoring run from Southern helped them regain the lead 17-12, which was the largest lead of the set.

The Braves fought and took back the lead 22-19, after going on a 9-1 scoring run with kills from sophomore middle blocker Reann Bergman, Thompson and junior outside hitter Kat Poore.

Bradley won the first set 25-20, after a kill from Bergman and attack error from redshirt freshman outside hitter Alex Washington giving them the lead in the game 1-0.

Four kills from Thompson gave Bradley an early 5-1 lead in the second set.

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Bradley continued expanding their lead 13-5, with kills from Poore, Coggin and Bergman, along with attack errors from Washington and freshman middle hitter Imani Hartfield.

The continued scoring from the Braves left the Salukis unable to regain the lead despite their efforts and Bradley won the second set 25-13.

Scoring was close in the beginning of the third set, both teams traded kills and neither were able to gain a large lead.

Bradley managed to gain a 14-11 lead after kills from Coggin and Bergman and a service ace from junior setter Kora Kauling.

The Salukis came back and tied the score 18-18, from attack errors from the Braves and kills by Tornatta and redshirt junior outside hitter Hannah Becker.

SIU won the third set 25-21 after a tough battle with the Braves with scoring from freshman outside hitter Taylor Morgan, Tornatta and freshman defensive specialist Ryan Rednour, making the game 2-1.

The Braves began the fourth set with a 8-1 lead with kills from Thompson, Coggin and Topcicek and two service aces from Kauling. 

Bradley continued lengthening their lead to 14-5 with scoring from Topcicek, Kauling and freshman middle blocker Abby Johnson.

The Salukis decreased the gap to 21-18 with kills from Morgan, Emma Baalman and Tornatta and attack errors from Bradley.

Despite Southern’s efforts, Bradley won the fourth set 25-19 after an attack error from Tornatta and the Braves won the game 3-1.

The Salukis will take on Indiana State on Mar. 7 at the Banterra Center at 1 p.m.

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

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