Salukis Edge Panthers in Davies Gym, 3-2

Friday, September 23

Carbondale, Ill.

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

9-6, 0-2MVC

Southern Illinois

10-5, 1-0MVC

UNI

Southern Illinois

Salukis Edge Panthers in Davies Gym, 3-2

9/23/2016 9:40:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Salukis scored a 3-2 win over the University of Northern Iowa Panther volleyball squad on Friday at Davies Gym. SIU won by set scores of 18-25, 25-23, 31-29, 19-25, 15-13.

It marks the second straight five-set loss for the Panthers to begin Missouri Valley Conference play, following a 3-2 loss to Illinois State last Friday.

UNI (9-5 overall, 0-2 MVC) had Bri Weber tally her eighth double-double of the season with 19 kills and 16 digs. Amie Held narrowly missed a double-double with 23 digs and nine kills. Kayla Haneline powered down 19 kills (.395 hitting percentage). Kendyl Sorge registered her fifth 20-plus dig night with a match-high 27 digs. Piper Thomas had 15 kills (.323 hitting percentage) and a team-best six blocks.

UNI's Heather Hook and Lindsey Schulz each posted a career-high in the matchup with the Salukis. Hook was credited with 59 assists (two more than her previous best). Lindsey Schulz netted a career-best seven digs.

SIU (10-5 overall, 1-0 MVC) used a match-high 21 kills from Abby Barrow to hold off the Panthers. It is the fifth time in the all-time series between the two schools that a match went five sets - SIU now holds a 3-2 lead in five-setters vs. UNI.

The Panthers held the early momentum with a 25-18 first-set victory. UNI was up 15-10 before a 5-0 run by SIU tied it at 15-15. UNI used a 4-0 run to seize back control and closed the set on a 9-2 spurt. UNI hit .279 in the opening set with 18 kills and six attack errors. SIU was limited to nine kills and six errors (.079 hitting percentage).

SIU evened the match at 1-1 with a late surge. SIU held an 18-13 lead and appeared in control. However, UNI took a 23-22 lead and appeared ready to take a 2-0 lead. But the home squad rattled off three straight points to earn a split, 25-23.

The third set was an epic back-and-forth battle. Early on, SIU held a five-point lead at 13-8. UNI battled back to knot the set at 19-19. UNI held a set point at 24-23 but SIU had an answer to the Panther attack. SIU would need six set points before scoring a 31-29 win to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Panthers came out swinging in the fourth set to even it at 2-2 with a 25-19 win. UNI hit .243 with 14 kills (.243 hitting percentage), while holding SIU to a .125 hitting percentage with 12 kills and seven attack errors.

The match would come down a fifth and decisive set on the Saluki home court. SIU would not trail in the final set after scoring the first two points. UNI would close to within a single point on four occasions but could not find the equalizier. UNI trailed 14-10 and was able to score three in a row to close to 14-13. However, SIU's Andrea Estrada finished the match with a kill to give the home squad a 15-13 win.

UNI will be back in action Saturday at Evansville. The Panthers and Purple Aces will take to the court at 7 p.m. The match can be seen live on ESPN3.