Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University's women's volleyball team faced a challenging match against the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) on Friday night in Carbondale, resulting in a loss. The Salukis, with a record of 10-13 overall and 3-9 in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), had opportunities to turn the match around but were unable to capitalize during critical moments. UIC, holding a 17-7 overall record and 9-3 in the MVC, managed to secure a victory by sweeping the contest.

Kelly Franklin led Southern Illinois with nine kills, while Larissa Seger contributed by blocking four attacks. Anna Jaworski added 14 assists to her team's efforts.

During the first set, UIC maintained a slight lead for most of the game. However, Southern Illinois pushed the set into extra points after scoring three consecutive points, concluded by a kill from Kelly Franklin. Despite this effort, UIC scored two consecutive points to take an early lead in the match.

In the second set, Southern Illinois initially led 9-3 but could not sustain their advantage. A service error gave UIC momentum to make a comeback and eventually win the set 25-18. This turnaround was highlighted by UIC's impressive 6-0 run at the end of the set.

UIC controlled the third set from start to finish and completed their sweep with a decisive 25-17 victory. Zahria Woodard played a key role for UIC with seven blocks throughout the night.

Looking ahead, Southern Illinois aims to recover over the weekend as they prepare for their upcoming match against Valparaiso on Saturday at 5 p.m.

For updates on Southern Illinois Women's Volleyball, fans can follow them on social media platforms including X (@SIU_Volleyball), Instagram (@SIU_Volleyball), and Facebook (SalukiVolleyball). Additionally, supporters can access information through the "Salukis" Mobile App available on both App Store and Google Play Store.