Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois Women's Volleyball team secured a victory against Indiana State in a closely contested match held in Terre Haute. The Salukis initially led the match with two set wins, but the Sycamores fought back to tie the game, forcing a decisive fifth set. Ultimately, Southern Illinois emerged victorious in this Missouri Valley Conference matchup.

Kelly Franklin and Annabelle Sulish were instrumental for the Salukis (10-10, 3-6 MVC), combining for 39 kills and 36 digs. Setters Anna Jaworski and Ema Stermenska contributed significantly with a total of 71 assists. Notably, Franklin achieved a career-high with 19 digs, while Stermenska reached her personal best with 36 assists.

The first set saw both teams exchanging points until Southern Illinois capitalized on Indiana State's errors to win 25-20. In the second set, an early run by Southern Illinois helped them secure a commanding 25-14 victory.

Indiana State showed resilience in the third set, maintaining a narrow lead throughout and extending the match thanks to Kendall Curry's performance, who had 14 kills during the night. The fourth set was competitive as well; SIU led initially but Indiana State rallied back with an impressive run to level the score.

In the final set, Southern Illinois gained an early advantage through key plays from Ella Swansiger and maintained their lead to finish at 15-9.

Looking ahead, Southern Illinois will host Belmont at Davies Gym on Friday, Oct. 25 as part of their upcoming four-match homestand.

Fans can stay updated on team news via social media platforms X (@SIU_Volleyball), Instagram (@SIU_Volleyball), Facebook (SalukiVolleyball), or through the "Salukis" Mobile App available on both App Store and Google Play Store.