EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville volleyball team will look to put a halt to a five-match losing streak as they travel to Southern Illinois to face off against the Salukis at 7 p.m. Friday night.
 
On Tuesday, the Purple Aces dropped a 3-1 decision to Lipscomb at the Carson Center to fall to 11-8 on the season.  After taking a dominating 25-15 win in the opening frame against the Bisons, the Aces dropped the final three games as Lipscomb took the match.
 
Ashley Ring was the lone Ace to hit double figures in kills with 11 while senior Ellen Sawin set a new career mark with 19 digs.  Sawin continues to lead the Missouri Valley Conference in assists on the season with a total of 758.
 
Southern Illinois enters Friday’s contest with an overall mark of 7-6 and an identical 1-3 MVC record.  Last time out, the Salukis topped SIU Edwardsville in five sets, 3-2.  After opening up a 2-0 lead in the match, the Cougars rallied to send the match to a deciding set where the Salukis sealed the victory with a 15-7 win.  Over the weekend, SIU split a pair of league matches, taking a 3-1 victory over Drake on Friday before falling to Creighton, 3-1, on Saturday.
 
Offensively, SIU is led by Jessica Whitehead and Laura Thole, who have put up 177 and 174 kills, respectively.  On the defensive end, they are led by Bailey Yeager’s 197 digs.
 
The squads split a pair of matches last season as the Aces picked up a 3-0 win over the Salukis at the Carson Center.  In the second meeting in Carbondale, SIU took a 3-2 win in five sets as Jennifer Berwanger recorded a 29-kill outing.  Hannah Wilson averaged 16.0 kills against Southern Illinois last season, including a career-high 20 at Davies Gym.  The Aces will be looking for their first win in Carbondale since the 2006 season.
 
After Friday’s match, Evansville will have a week off before taking to the road for matches at Illinois State and Indiana State on October 7 and 8.