MACOMB, Ill. - Senior Jenna Yurs (Elgin, Ill./St. Edwards/Elgin C.C.) led Western Illinois with 12 kills and four blocks, but it wasn?t enough to pick up a win against Southern Illinois as the Salukis defeated Western 3-0 (21-30, 21-30, 29-31). The match marked the final of a three-match homestand in Macomb where Western finished 1-2.The Salukis (4-8, 1-2 Missouri Valley) took an early 14-6 lead in game one before Western (5-9, 1-1 Mid-Con) was able to close the gap by two points after a six-point run at 15-17. Western?s two-point trail was the closest it would come in the opening game as Southern went on to claim its first of two 30-21 game wins.Despite nine tied scores and four lead changes in the second game, Western was unable to thwart two four-point rallies by Southern late in the game for its second 30-21 win. The Salukis hit a match-high .485, and recorded just two errors on 18 kills to Western?s 16 kills and seven errors. Yurs picked up five of her 12 kills in the game and sophomore Mary Olson (Elkhart, Ill./Mount Pulaski) added four kills.Game three began with an early Southern lead that rapidly increased to 16-10 before Western went on a five-point run to trail 15-16. Southern again increased its lead by six at 25-19, but Western answered back with a second rally to tie the score 27-all. The Salukis pulled off match-point at 30-29 on one of Katy DeWulf?s 13 kills.Junior Lisa Suellentrop (St, Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain) collected 31 assists and five kills, and junior Jennifer Alexander (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) added 16 digs and one ace. Junior Patty Melinauskas finished with eight kills, 12 digs and two blocks, and Olson notched seven kills and four blocks. Sophomore Amy Sauerwein collected seven kills and eight digs.Johannah Yutzy led Southern Illinois with 14 kills and 10 digs, and Holly Marita added 48 assists. Kristy Elswick led the Salukis? defense with a match-high 21 digs.Western will remain idle until Friday, September 30, when it resumes Mid-Con action with a visit to Oral Roberts.