Saluki volleyball dominates Sycamores in four-set shocker

Coach+Kari+Thompson+addresses+her+team+Saturday%2C+Sept.+30%2C+2017%2C+during+the+Salukis%E2%80%99+4-1+loss+to+the+University+of+Indiana+State+Sycamores+at+Davies+Gym.+

Coach Kari Thompson addresses her team Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, during the Salukis’ 4-1 loss to the University of Indiana State Sycamores at Davies Gym.

By Dillon Gilliland

The Salukis came into Friday evening’s matchup against the Sycamores looking to end their conference losing streak while getting their revenge on Indiana State from their previous loss earlier in the season.

Although SIU has dominated the past series against the Sycamores, Southern was unable to capitalize in a match earlier in the season as Indiana State beat the Salukis convincingly in four set.

The Sycamores looked to set the tone early in the first set of the match as they jumped to a quick 2-0 lead over SIU with a kill and an attacking error.

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The Salukis were able to quickly regroup quickly as they brought the score back to even as the the two teams went on to trade points back and forth with neither team letting the other gain any wiggle room settling at an 11-11 tie.

Indiana State was able to gain a little bit of breathing room as they went on to take three of the next four points to put them ahead of Southern 14-12.

The Sycamores continued to pull away from SIU as they were able to put together a two-point run and a three-point run to further extend their lead to 21-16.

The Salukis began to show some promise as they were able to find a three-point run with a couple of attacking errors and a kill by redshirt senior outsider hitter Andrea Estrada to bring the game to a close 23-20.

Southern could not continue their run as they later fell short to the Sycamores 25-21 to give INS the first set of the match.

SIU looked to shift the momentum in the second set as they opened the second set with a 2-0 lead after an attacking error and a service ace by senior outside hitter Abby Barrow.

Indiana State answered back immediately as they shut down the run by the Salukis and turned a three-point run of their own to put them ahead 3-2.

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The Sycamores continue their charge as they were able to put together a four-point run as well to extend their lead to 9-4 over SIU forcing them to take a timeout.

The Salukis were able to quickly turn things around as they went on to take six of the next seven points with a four-point sparked by a kill from freshman opposite hitter Maggie Nedoma tying the game at 10-10 forcing INS to take a timeout to regroup.

The teams went on to trade points until SIU scraped together another four-point run sparked by a kill from Barrow to put them ahead 15-13.

The Salukis took their lead and ran with it and never looked back as they went on to take the second set of the match 25-20 tying the match at 1-1.

The third set looked to be a close one as both teams came out firing and trading points back and forth settling at a 5-5 tie.

SIU took a commanding lead as they went on a five-point run after a few attacking errors a kill by senior outside hitter Nellie Fredriksson to put them ahead of the Sycamores 10-6.

Indiana State was able to fight their way back into the set and take their lead back as they put together a three-point run and a five-point run to put them ahead of the Salukis 15-14.

The teams battle back and forth continuing to trade points until SIU was able to find a couple of two-point runs to put them ahead 24-21.

Southern was able to close out the set with a kill by Nedoma winning the set 25-22 taking a 2-1 set lead over the Sycamores.

The fourth set opened the same as the third with both teams trading points tying the game at 4-4.

INS was able to finally open up the scoring with a three-point run to put them ahead of SIU at 7-4.

The Salukis quickly answered back with a two-point run and three-point run with a couple of kills from Nedoma to put them ahead of the Sycamores 9-8.

Southern was able to extend their lead to five as they went on a four-point run with a couple of kills by senior middle hitter Kolby Meeks to make the score 18-13.

Southern never looked back as they went on to take the final set of the match 25-19 to win the match 3-1, their first match win since Sept. 29 and earning their redemption.

Junior middle blocker Patience Brown lead the team in kills and blocks with a season high of 16 kills and a season high of 9 blocks.

Sophomore setter Alayna martin lead the team in assists with 24 while freshman setter Rachel Maguire added 22 of her own.

Barrow led the team in service aces with a total of two on the night.

Senior libero Ashley Edelen led the team in digs with a total of 15.

SIU will look to start a winning streak as they will take on the University of Evansville on Saturday. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Sports reporter Dillon Gilliland can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @DillonGilliland.

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