The SIU volleyball team (17-7, 8-3) traveled to Chicago on Friday to take on the Loyola Ramblers (18-6, 7-4), a team that beat SIU in Carbondale earlier this season.

The Salukis won in five sets (26-28, 26-28, 25-21, 25-21, 19-17) in a match that had 58 ties and 26 lead changes.

Sophmore Andrea Estrada, the Salukis’ leading hitter this season, was not on the court. Coach Justin Ingram said she was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules. 

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SIU fell in the first two sets in extra points — SIU was leading in the back half of both sets. The Salukis won the last three sets to win the match. They have won eight of their last ten matches.

“We had our chance in the first two sets,” Ingram said. “[junior Meg Viggars] adjusted really well and she did a lot for us tonight.”

Viggars led the Salukis with 14 blocks. Sophomore middle hitter Alex Rosignol added 11.

In the third and fourth sets the Salukis out blocked the Ramblers 9-3. SIU leads the Missouri Valley Conference in blocks per set this season (2.47).

“After watching film we knew where they liked to hit that helped a lot with our blocked,” Rosignol said. “In the fifth set we came out with a lot of energy”

As a team the Salukis hit .271. The Ramblers hit for a .195 efficiency. SIU hit for a .409 in the fifth set.

The Salukis leading hitter in the match was sophomore outside hitter Abby Barrow, who tallied 21 kills on 55 attempts with four errors. Sophomore outside hitter Shannon Hagen hit for a career high 11 kills.

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“We started the match not talking a lot and we’re passive,” Barrow said. “When we play with more energy and talk more we play better.”

After this win the Salukis are now in sole possession of second place in the MVC. 

SIU volleyball plays Bradley at 7 p.m. Saturday in Peoria.

Evan Jones can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @EvanJones_DE