EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.  -  SIUE volleyball dropped their first match of the Spring 2021 season on Sunday, falling 3-1 to reigning OVC regular season champion Jacksonville State.

The match was tightly-contested through all four sets, with neither team mustering more than a six-point lead at any point.

"When we go point-for-point like that, it keeps us tight the whole time," said Head Coach Kendall Paulus. "When you can get three or four points ahead, you can normally gain some confidence, but they'd come back everytime we'd get a lead. The team felt that and we never quite settled in."

Defending Ohio Valley Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week Savannah Christian showcased her offensive skills, leading the Cougars with 15 kills and boasting a .440 hitting percentage. Sydney Hummert and Rachel McDonald also had impressive offensive outings with 13 and 10 kills, respectively. Jordyn Klein added 12 digs, while Sarah Armendariz led all SIUE players with 43 assists on the day.

"We know we need to be better at defending their right side," said Paulus. "I really think the team will show up with our adjustments tomorrow now that we've seen them live."

The Cougars will return to First Community Arena tomorrow at noon for a rematch with Jacksonville State. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available at SIUEStats.com.