EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE volleyball hit for a .243 attack percentage and Sydney Hummert tallied a team-high 13 kills, but Southeast Missouri State used a .298 clip to sweep the Cougars in three sets on Friday night at First Community Arena. The set scores were: 25-27, 24-26, and 20-25.
Following the loss, SIUE falls to 6-8 overall and 0-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Redhawks improve to 11-3 and 3-0.
"Both teams had to work like it was a five-set match," Head Coach Kendall Paulus said. "Both sides had long rallies and worked hard tonight."
The first two sets played back and forth with a combined 31 ties and 11 lead changes. SEMO would go on to take a 10-point advantage at 22-12 in the final frame, but the Cougars fought back on a 7-1 run to trail by four. However, the Redhawks would take two of the final three points for the match victory at 3-0.
"Our team was telling each other 'Don't look at the score' into the third set," said Paulus. "They did a great job with their communication and trying to stay loose. I just wish we were a bit more aggressive earlier on."
Inside the Numbers:
- Hummert's 13 kills marks the eighth time the junior has contributed double-digit kills this season. The outside hitter concluded the match with a .346 attack percentage. She also added nine digs and a block.
- Bree Schreimann tallied nine kills on 20 attacks for a .350 clip. Priscilla Jones finished with eight kills on 17 attacks for a .353 hitting percentage.
- Chelsey Abel led SIUE at the net with four blocks while Savannah Christian and Priscilla Jones added three apiece.
- At the service line, Julia Treichel led the Cougars with a pair of service aces.
- Grace Beekman led the Cougars' setting efforts, dishing out 22 assists. Alyse Drifka handed out 17 assists while tallying 11 digs for her fifth consecutive double-double.
- Abi Banitt led the change on defense, leading the Cougars with 15 digs.
"We'll bounce back tomorrow," said Paulus. "We did some great things tonight. We need to repeat what we did well. Our back row attack worked really well, and we covered offense all over the floor. We just need to play balanced tomorrow."
SIUE returns to action tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. for the series finale against the Redhawks.
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