Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University's women's volleyball team broke a four-match losing streak with a 3-1 victory over Valparaiso on Friday night. The Salukis secured their first win at Valparaiso since February 14, 2021.

The match began with Southern Illinois taking the first two sets, both by scores of 25-18. Valparaiso responded by dominating the third set and carried that momentum forward. Despite this, Annabelle Sulish's decisive kill clinched the victory for the Salukis.

Sulish was instrumental in the win, contributing 19 kills, five blocks, and eight digs. Larissa Seger added six blocks, while Ema Stermenska led with 25 assists.

In the opening set, Southern Illinois established a strong lead with a 6-0 run to go up 10-5 and maintained control throughout. In the second set, another run of nine consecutive points gave them a commanding position which Valparaiso could not overcome.

Valparaiso never fell behind in the third set and won it decisively at 25-15 after a significant scoring run. The fourth set remained competitive until Jillian Shaneyfelt's ace put Southern Illinois ahead at match point. Although Valparaiso attempted a comeback by scoring three consecutive points, Sulish ended their hopes with her final kill of the night.

Southern Illinois is scheduled to face UIC on Saturday evening in Chicago, with coverage available on ESPN+.

For updates on Southern Illinois University volleyball, fans can follow their social media accounts or download their mobile app from major app stores.