EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE came from two sets down Saturday for a 25-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-8 triumph over UT Martin in Ohio Valley Conference volleyball at the Vadalabene Center.

"If we keep getting better all year, keep looking forward and improving then we are meeting our goals," said SIUE Head Coach Leah Johnson.

Ashley Witt and Kristen Torre took center stage for the Cougars combining for 50 kills. It was the first time in the Division I era that a pair of Cougars have combined for 50 or more kills in a singles match and the first time in 15 seasons.

Witt set a single-match career high with 26 kills, tied for the fifth most in program history and the second most of the Division I era behind Torre's 29-kill effort last season at Jacksonville State.

Torre was equally as impressive Saturday and highly efficient. She finished with 24 kills and a .477 hitting percentage.

"Kristen played well. She is so error free so you can rely on her to take care of the ball," said Johnson. "Ashley sometimes it has to be high reward and high risk. When she stays patient, she's really terminal."

UT Martin, which dropped to 7-18 overall and 3-5 in the OVC, won a pair of sets by edging the Cougars at the end by two points. While the outcome put the Cougars in an unenviable position, Johnson continued to encourage the Cougars.

"We challenged them. It was about fight. The matchup was there," she said.

SIUE's offense grew stronger as the match continued. The Cougars recorded 16 kills in the third set and 18 more in the fourth set. Eleven of the 15 points in the fifth set were due to an SIUE kills with six coming from Witt and three from Torre.

SIUE outhit the Skyhawks .223-.158 in hitting percentage and 71-54 in kills. Mallory Mangun recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 60 assists and team-high 18 digs.

The Cougars improved to 3-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference and moved into a four-way tie for seventh place with Southeast Missouri, UT Martin and Tennessee Tech. SIUE will look to continue its winning ways on this with two more matches at home next weekend. The Cougars welcome Murray State Friday and Austin Peay Saturday.

50 Total Kills by Two Cougars in a Single Match
59 – Lindsay Rust (34) and Michelle Gilman (25) vs. Grand Valley State (9/5/98)
53 – Lindsay Rust (31) and Michelle Gilman (22) vs. Lewis (10/2/98)
51 – Lindsay Rust (28) and Michelle Gilman (23) vs. Washington U. (10/21/98)
50 – Lindsay Rust (26) and Shanan McLean (24) vs. Lewis (9/22/00)
50 – Ashley Witt (26) and Kristen Torre (24) vs. UT Martin (10/17/15)