Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois Women's Volleyball team faced a challenging match against Drake on Friday night in Carbondale, ultimately losing in four sets. The Salukis put up a strong fight against one of the top teams in The Valley, pushing the Bulldogs to their limits.

The match began with Southern Illinois securing the first set, but they were unable to maintain their momentum during crucial moments, resulting in a 3-1 victory for Drake.

Annabelle Sulish led the Salukis with 17 kills. Cecilia Bulmahn contributed 24 digs, and Anna Jaworski added 26 assists to her impressive record.

In set one, with the score tied at 15, Southern Illinois closed out with some of their best play of the season. Sulish secured the final two points for a decisive 25-18 win.

The Salukis seemed poised to take a commanding lead after going up 24-20 in set two. However, a service error allowed Drake to go on a six-point run and even the match at one set each.

Drake gained an early lead in set three and maintained it throughout, leaving Southern Illinois trailing and down 2-1 overall.

Despite holding a narrow lead at 22-20 towards the end of set four, another late surge from Drake sealed their victory. The Bulldogs' win was highlighted by solo blocks from Bliss Beck and Megan Witte.

Looking ahead, Southern Illinois will prepare for senior night against UNI at 5 p.m. on ESPN+ Saturday night.

For updates on Southern Illinois Volleyball news and information, fans can follow them on X (@SIU_Volleyball), Instagram (@SIU_Volleyball), Facebook (SalukiVolleyball), or download the "Salukis" Mobile App available on both App Store and Google Play Store.