For The Southern

CARBONDALE - After a disappointing loss the night before to Missouri State, the Southern Illinois University volleyball team gave 14th-ranked Wichita State all it could handle, but came up short, 25-23, 25-17, 25-21 in the homecoming match Saturday at Davies Gym.

"I think being still undefeated is amazing," Wichita State coach Chris Lamb said. "It's like every night somebody else on our team shows up with gigantic numbers. We keep finding a way to win and it's been that way all season long."

SIU dropped to 2-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference and 11-6 overall while Wichita State escaped with its undefeated record intact at 18-0 and 7-0 in the conference. The Salukis hit the road next weekend against Drake and Creighton.

"We had an opportunity against the 14th team in the country with our defense really scrapping and picking up a lot of balls," SIU coach Brenda Winkeler said. "However, we've struggled offensively against some of the bigger teams and tonight we struggled again."

The Salukis matched the Shockers shot for shot in the first set, coming back from a 14-8 deficit to a 23-23 tie. But two straight points from the outside by Sarah McGee and Emily Stockman pulled out the set for the Shockers.

"We started out with 11 errors and certainly didn't play good volleyball in the game one," Lamb said. "We tried to give them some confidence, I think."

With the score tied at nine in the second set, the Shockers went on a 9-2 run to take control and take a 2-0 lead with a 25-17 win.

With the Shockers holding a five-point lead in the third set, 19-14, the Salukis made their last stand. Kelsie Laughlin started the rally with a smash from the left side. The junior outside hitter then stepped behind the line and served up an ace.

Still down by four at 21-17 Berwanger got it going again with a shot from the left side followed by a score from the back line by Chandra Roberson. Berwanger then repeated her first shot and the Salukis were down by one 21-20.

Wichita State took a timeout and after the break scored two straight points before Berwanger got one back to leave SIU down by two 23-21. Mary Elizabeth Hooper closed out the set and the match with a stuff of a Laughlin shot and a kill from the middle.