Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois Women's Volleyball team faced a setback with a 3-1 loss against Illinois State on Saturday in Carbondale. This defeat marks the Salukis' fourth consecutive loss, placing them at 1-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) standings.

The match saw competitive play, but the Redbirds, who now stand at 8-9 overall and 3-1 in MVC play, managed to maintain their lead throughout. The Salukis are now 8-8 overall.

Key performances for Southern Illinois included Kelly Franklin and Annabelle Sulish, who together accounted for 29 kills. Jillian Shaneyfelt contributed with 14 digs, while Ema Stermenska provided 26 assists.

The game began with both teams exchanging points until Illinois State took charge with a six-point streak, establishing a 12-7 lead. Southern Illinois responded with a run of their own but ultimately fell short as the Redbirds secured the first set 25-22.

In the second set, facing a potential two-set deficit at 20-18, Franklin's three consecutive kills led Southern Illinois to a comeback victory, leveling the match at one set each.

However, service errors hindered Southern's efforts throughout the match, notably impacting their performance in the third set which they lost again by a score of 25-22. The Salukis ended the day with a total of 13 service errors.

During the fourth set, Southern briefly held a lead before Illinois State regained control. Despite a late push from Southern Illinois featuring a four-point run, Caitlyn Little's decisive kill clinched the win for Illinois State.

Looking ahead, Southern Illinois will continue its MVC schedule by facing Valparaiso on Friday, October 11.

Fans can follow updates and news about the Salukis through social media platforms including X (@SIU_Volleyball), Instagram (@SIU_Volleyball), and Facebook (SalukiVolleyball). Additionally, supporters can download the "Salukis" Mobile App available on both App Store and Google Play Store.