CARBONDALE, Ill. ? Senior Amy Sauerwein led the Western Illinois volleyball team in its 3-0 (30-25, 30-15, 30-25) loss to Southern Illinois at Davies Gym. The Belleville, Ill., native tallied nine kills and added 12 digs.

“We are struggling right now with things on our side of the net,” said head coach Kym McKay. “We purposely play teams like Southern that are a higher caliber so we can improve before we start our conference season.”

Western took the first two-point lead of the match when it went up 7-5 in game one. The Westerwinds (1-7, 0-0 The Summit League) kept the lead at no less than three points until Southern fought back to tie the game at 15. The Salukis (5-2, 0-0 Missouri Valley Conference) then went on a 5-1 run to gain the lead for good.

Game two started out tight, until a long rally on a 3-3 tie gave the Salukis the momentum they needed to take a five-point lead. Western fought back to get within two points (11-9), using service aces from senior Ashley Baker and sophomore Lindsay Muehlbauer. Southern then took back the momentum and rolled out to a nine-point advantage.

The third game was close until the Salukis took a 14-11 lead, the first over two points for either team in the game. Southern then started an 8-1 run that solidified its victory. Western mounted a 5-0 run of its own, but it was not enough to make up the 10-point deficit.

“I was impressed with Southern tonight,” said McKay. “I really like what Brenda Winkeler has done with the program in the three years that she has been here.”

Western will have almost a week off before traveling to Loyola (Chicago) for its ninth-straight road match. The Westerwinds will face the Ramblers Tuesday, September 11 at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym.

Notes: With her eight kill performance against Southern, Baker is now just 50 kills away from the 1,000 kill mark...the 2006 Mid-Continent Conference co-Player of the Year is currently in the No. 5 spot on the career kill charts at Western...she need just 89 kills to take over the fourth spot...senior Amy Sauerwein is 112 kills away from the 1,000 Kill/1,000 Dig club...Sue Orstrom is currently in the No. 2 position with 1,403 digs...Western's match against Loyola will be the final of nine-straight road matches that started the 2007 campaign.