The state dropped charges against two SIU athletes in a Jackson County court Wednesday.

Judge Kimberly Dahlen signed a motion to drop the charges against Dyanna Pierre, a senior forward on the women’s basketball team, and Andrea Estrada, a sophomore outside hitter for the volleyball team. The two were arrested Oct. 25 for allegedly scratching a car owned by Kris Grimes, a former SIU golfer.

They were charged with criminal damage to property more than $300 and resisting a peace officer.

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Pierre was benched for the team’s two exhibition games and the first regular season game against DePaul for violating team rules. This season she became SIU’s all-time leading rebounder.

“We are fully aware of the situation that occurred with Dyana Pierre and the Carbondale Police,” women’s basketball coach Cindy Stein said in a statement released to the Southern Illinoisan in November. “Dyana made a huge mistake and goes 100 percent against what we want representing this great university and program.” 

Estrada, a Colombia native, was benched two games for violating team rules after she was arrested. She led the Saluki volleyball team in kills per set this season as the team qualified for its first NCAA Tournament berth in program history.

If Estrada was convicted on criminal charges, she could have faced deportation, according to Dahlen.

Evan Jones can be reached at [email protected] or at (618)536-3304