EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.  -  SIUE volleyball gave the visiting Skyhawks all they could handle, but the Cougars came up just short in a four-set loss to UT Martin on Friday night.

A pair of services aces from Grace Beekman and a kill from Annie Ellis gave the Cougars the early lead. Shortly after, a 4-0 Cougar scoring run sparked by back-to-back aces from Alyse Drifka forced the Skyhawks into calling the match's first timeout. Both squads would trade points through the remainder of the opening set, but a pair of unlucky bounces gave the visitors the first frame victory. The start of the second set began in a similar fashion to the end of the first, but a 5-0 UTM scoring run proved to be the difference in the end, as the Cougars dropped the second set, 25-18. Following the second-set intermission, the Cougars returned to the court with renewed determination, holding the Skyhawks to a hitting percentage of just .000 en route to a 25-19 third set victory. However, the comeback effort would fall short, as UTM would claim the fourth set and the match.

Julia Treichel led the Red & White with 12 kills and 13 digs, while Savannah Christian followed close behind with nine kills. Nicole Kijowski led the Cougars with 18 digs, while Alyse Drifka once again eclipsed the 20-assist mark with a team-best 23.

SIUE, which drops to 5-16 overall and 2-8 in OVC play, will return to action tomorrow afternoon to close out the weekend series against UT Martin. First serve from First Community Arena is scheduled for 2 p.m.