EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Just one day after getting swept in straight sets, SIUE Volleyball responded with a dramatic comeback Saturday afternoon, rallying from a two-set deficit to defeat the Skyhawks following five intense sets.
After dropping the opening two sets, 25-17 and 25-18, the Cougars began to find momentum late in the third. SIUE rallied late to claim the set 25-23, before carrying the energy into the fourth and earning another 25-23 victory to force a deciding fifth set.
UT Martin opened the final set with a 3-0 lead, but the Cougars quickly answered back, cutting the deficit down to one at 5-4, and later taking their first lead of the set, 7-6.
The Cougars continued to stay composed in crunch time, taking a 12-10 advantage before
Kennedy Pike delivered back-to-back kills to put SIUE within one point of the win.
Teagan Sullivan then sealed the comeback with a service ace, giving the Cougars their first conference win of the season.
Sophomore
Kennedy Pike led the Cougar offense with a career-high 15 kills while hitting .313 for the match.
Sophie Robinson added nine kills, while
Karli Mann and
Vienna Elliott each finished with seven.
As a team, SIUE recorded 53 kills and hit .192, saving their best offensive stretches for the final two sets, hitting .303 in the fourth and .421 in the fifth.
With the win, SIUE moves to 1-1 in conference play. The Cougars will return to action next weekend when they travel to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to face Southeast Missouri on Oct. 2 and 3.
