EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE volleyball posted season highs in kills (70) and hitting percentage (.287) in a four-set victory over Murray State Friday night at the Vadalabene Center.

The Cougars improved to 8-12 overall and 4-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 25-20, 28-30, 25-20, 25-20 triumph over the visiting Murray State Racers. Murray State dropped to 12-9 overall and 2-5 in OVC play.

SIUE's 70 kills was the most by a Cougar team since 2011 when Jacksonville State allowed 74 against the Cougars.

"We worked all week specifically with our outside hitters in making smarter decisions with the ball," said SIUE Head Coach Leah Johnson. "They did a really great job. Taylor Held in particular had a really nice match."

Held, a freshman, set a career high with 11 kills and a .250 hitting percentage.

Cori Harris turned in another career-best effort with a team-leading 22 kills. She also was efficient with a .298 hitting percentage.

Kelsey Augustine joined Harris and Held in double figures with 11 kills.

SIUE finished with 10 blocks. Kristen Torre matched her career high with eight for the Cougars.

Mallory Mangun controlled the net in more ways than one. The Cougar freshman setter posted a personal best with eight kills with no errors. She added 53 assists, one shy of her season best.

"I thought she (Mangun) was seeing the other side of the net better than she has," said Johnson. "That's been a growing area for her. She has been working on that. It's certainly a learned skill that setters acquire and at this level is difficult."

Johnson said the Cougars' ball control was as good as she has seen this season. That allowed the Cougars to stay consistent throughout the match.

SIUE got off to a strong start in the opening set with 17 kills and holding Murray State to just seven.

Despite as much as a five-point lead in the second set, Murray State rallied to tie up the set. The trio of Alyssa Lelm, Taylor Olden, Scottie Ingram paced the Racers as all three finished the match with 12 kills. Johnson said the Cougars got caught in a couple of rotations as Murray State came back with 17 kills in the second set.

"I felt like we were still in the right mindset after that set," Johnson noted. "There was no wavering and no uncertainty."

SIUE left little doubt after the second set by winning the first six points off the serve of Kasey Schumacher and rallying to an 8-1 lead in set three. Murray State cut the lead to 20-19 late, but Harris recorded three kills in SIUE's final three points of the set.

The fourth set was tied just once at 11-11, and then the Cougars methodically closed out the match. SIUE had 18 kills with three errors for a .417 hitting percentage in the set. Taylor Held ended the match with a kill on match point.

SIUE next faces Austin Peay in a 2 p.m. match Saturday at the Vadalabene Center.