DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University volleyball team could not overcome a slow start in a 3-1 loss to Southern Illinois on Friday, Oct. 21, at the Knapp Center as the Salukis had five players register double figures in kills.
 
Drake (12-11, 3-6 MVC) fell by set scores of 25-15, 25-19, 25-27, 25-23, as SIU (17-7, 8-2 MVC) moved into a tie for first place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings.
 
"We got off to a slow start tonight and that didn't help, but I'm proud of our team for the way we finished," said Drake head coach Darrin McBroom. "I thought we really competed in the final two sets and did a nice job of pressing SIU. We finished strong but need to get a better start."
 
The Bulldogs were led by juniors Kameo Pope (Belle Plaine, Iowa) and Kyla Inderski (Urbandale, Iowa) with 11 kills each while Nicole Woods (St. Charles, Ill.) added a season-high seven kills while hitting .300.
 
"We had a lot of players do well tonight," McBroom added. "We did a lot of good things, but just needed more of it. SIU is a very good program with a high-paced offense and we struggled to keep pace with them."
 
Andrea Estrada recorded 17 kills for SIU to reach the 1,000 career kill mark and become the fifth active MVC player to achieve the feat.
 
SIU pulled away for an early 13-8 lead in the opening set and despite Drake drawing within two points twice, the Salukis quickly re-established their lead behind seven-straight points served up by Hannah Kaminsky to take the set, 25-15. SIU hit .382 to open the match while holding Drake to .079 and just 11 kills.
 
The second set was much tighter with seven ties as neither team led by more than three points early. A kill from Woods tied the match for the final time at 12-12, but SIU used Alex Rosignol's serving to build up a 21-14 cushion en route to the 25-19 win.
 
Facing a 2-0 deficit, Drake responded by hitting .349 in the third set with Grace Schofield (Mundelein, Ill.) nailing six kills to keep the Salukis at bay. Schofield finished the match with nine kills on 21 attempts. Towards the end of the set, Drake used a 4-1 run to enjoy a 21-17 lead, but SIU answered with four-straight points to tie the set. Four more ties ensued as neither team led by more than a point until back-to-back kills from Schofield and Pope gave the Bulldogs a 27-25 win to force a fourth set.
 
Midway through the fourth set, Drake tied the match at 15-15, but could get no closer as SIU built up a four-point, 22-18, lead in the waning moments of the match to dispatch the Bulldogs, 25-23, and take the match, 3-1.
 
Drake continues its two-game MVC homestand on Saturday, Oct. 22, when it hosts Evansville at the Knapp Center. First serve is set for 7:05 p.m. with the contest broadcast via The Valley on ESPN3.