Racers Defeat Salukis in Five-Set Thriller

Saturday, October 26

Carbondale, Ill.

5 p.m.

Murray State

12-8,7-4MVC

Southern Illinois

10-12,3-8MVC

Murray St.

Southern Ill.

10/26/2024 8:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Murray State survives to defeat Southern Illinois 3-2.

By: Charlie Williams

The Murray State Racers (12-8, 7-4 MVC) defeated the Southern Illinois Salukis (10-12, 3-8 MVC) 3-2 in Carbondale, Ill. Saturday night.

With the win the Racers remain in fourth place in the Missouri Valley Conference while the Salukis are in eighth.

The Racers were efficient in the first set, registering 21 kills on a .452 attacking percentage and winning 25-20. SIU fought back in the second set, holding off a Murray State comeback to win 25-23. Momentum continues to change hands in the third and fourth sets with Murray State taking a 25-18 win and SIU winning the fourth 25-16 to force a pivotal final set.

The final set saw the Salukis jump out to an early 8-3 lead. The Racers then went on a run to tie the set 8-8 and never looked back, going another 7-2 claiming a 15-10 win to seal the match.

Lily Burnett set a new career-high with 19 kills to lead the team. Three other Racers recorded double-digit kills as Ella Vogel had 15, Haidi Miliou had 14, and Darci Metzger had 12. Bailey DeMier recorded a new season-high with 54 assists while Dahlia Miller led both teams with 24 digs. Metzger and Miliou both had team highs with three blocks.

For the Salukis Larissa Seager led the way with 14 kills while Annabelle Sulish and Kelly Franklin had 12 apiece. Sulish led the team with 23 digs while Ema Stermenska put up 28 assists and Anna Jaworski added 26.

The Racers return home next weekend to host UNI on Friday, November 1 at 6 p.m. CT. They host the Drake Bulldogs the following Saturday at 5 p.m. CT for Racer Volleyball senior night.

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