Southern Illinois traveled to Illinois State Saturday to take on the Redbirds in a four-set match. 

Illinois State took the first set with Southern trailing close behind, thanks to six kills by Nataly Garcia. In the second set, the Redbirds only allowed Southern a total of 16 points, four of which were kills by Tatum Tornatta.

The Salukis took the close third set 25-23. Nineteen of the Saluki’s 25 points were kills and nine of those were put down by Garcia, Tornatta trailed with four kills, and Imani Hartfield and Annabelle Sulish both had three. 

The Redbirds started the fourth set with a five-point score streak. Midway through the set, Illinois State had another streak of four that was followed by a five-point streak for the Salukis that consisted of kills by Tatum Tornatta, Annabelle Sulish, and Brinley Burdette. The Redbirds took the fourth set over the Salukis winning the match 3-1. 

Southern Illinois was led in kills by Garcia (17), Tornatta (14), and Sulish (11), who all hit double-digit kills. The Saluki’s three aces were by Bailey Neuberger, Nataly Garcia, and Kelly Franklin. 

Freshman Claudia Bobb led the Salukis with 14 digs and Anna Jaworski followed with nine. 

The Salukis move to 15-10 on the season and 8-5 in conference play. 

Southern Illinois will host Indiana State for their next match Friday, Nov. 4 in Davies Gym at 6 p.m. with hopes to add another conference win to their record. 

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Sports reporter Joei Younker can be reached at [email protected].

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