EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE volleyball rallied from two sets down Friday night to defeat Western Illinois 19-25, 16-25, 25-18, 25-17, 15-6 to close the opening day of the SIUE Invitational at the Vadalabene Center.

The Cougars had the opposite outcome earlier in the day when Kent State won the final three sets in a 23-25, 26-28, 25-18, 25-23, 22-20 loss.

"It feels so good (to get her first coaching victory). I love this team. We have fun," said SIUE Head Coach Leah Johnson.

Junior setter Sammi Minton recorded a career-best 54 assists in the Western Illinois match, after recording 52 in the opening match. She also was perfect in hitting percentage with eight kills with no errors on 14 attacks for the day.

Freshman Emma Anderson was the leader in kills in both matches for SIUE with 14 against Kent State and 15 against Western Illinois.

"What is really impressive (about Anderson), is that she not only does it in the front row, but she goes to the back row and is the primary passer for us," Johnson said.

The Cougars may have looked tired after going a marathon 2 ½ hours against Kent State only to drop the final set 22-20. SIUE had lost in five sets but a "never give up" attitude rang out as the team took the court for the third set of the Western Illinois match.

"Honestly, I was pretty calm," Johnson said. "We trained really hard this preseason."

SIUE's offense came alive with 17 kills in the third set followed by 16 more in the fourth set. Four players finished in double-figure kills. After Anderson's 15, sophomore Cori Harris and junior Brianne Graunke finished with 12 each while sophomore middle hitter Kelsey Augustine added 10.

The momentum had swung into SIUE's favor against Western Illinois. After winning the third and fourth sets, SIUE used the serving of Anderson and sophomore Julia Whitfield to push past the Leathernecks, now 1-1. Anderson won four straight serves during the fifth set. Whitfield would win six straight points.

"They had the chance to walk away with a win or a loss, and they responded. They are very, very competitive," said Johnson.

After day one of the SIUE Invitational, Wofford remained as the lone undefeated team after defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Kent State in three sets each. SIUE faces Wofford in its next match at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The Cougars also play Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the tournament finale at 7 p.m.

"It feels good, but in about an hour we are going to move on. I think it is important to appreciate and enjoy what you have done, but in an hour it is about the next step," Johnson said.

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