LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – SIUE and Little Rock played a high-stakes regular season finale Thursday night at Jack Stephens Center with the winner advancing to the Ohio Valley Conference Volleyball Tournament in Charleston, Illinois. Sydney Hummert paced the Cougars with 20 kills and 16 digs for her 13th double-double of the season, but SIUE dropped a 3-1 decision with set scores of 17-25, 21-25, 25-17, and 18-25.

SIUE concludes its 2023 campaign 13-16 overall and 7-11 against OVC opponents. Little Rock improves to 11-18 and 8-10.

After falling in the first two sets, SIUE took the third frame on 16 kills and a match-best .268 hitting percentage. Little Rock regrouped, taking the fourth for the 3-1 victory.

The Cougars concluded the match with a .115 attack percentage while the Trojans wrapped the contest with a .193 clip. SIUE registered six service aces while tallying 65 digs. Little Rock outblocked SIUE 11-10.

At the net, Priscilla Jones led the Cougars with five blocks while Jenna Taphorn and Elana Fuller contributed four each. Jones added eight kills while Paige Montgomery finished with five.

Alyse Drifka and Corinna Jones combined for 38 assists, led by Drifka's 21. Gabi Andrade finished the match with 10 digs.

Little Rock will take on Eastern Illinois in the opening round of the OVC Tournament on Nov. 20.