CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Sophomore Melissa Collins (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South) had a team-best nine kills and hit .389, but the Braves came up short against Southern Illinois, falling 25-19, 25-22, 25-18 to the Salukis Saturday at Davies Gym.

Bradley (5-21 overall, 1-12 MVC) trailed 20-18 in the first set when BU errors would help the Salukis to a 25-19 opening set win. A Bradley service error was followed by a pair of BU attack errors. Junior Amy Reichel (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) notched one of her eight kills on the night to pull the Braves back to within four points (23-19), but a BU service error and attack error would close out the 25-19 SIU win.

The Braves held a 17-15 lead in the second set, before Southern Illinois (15-8 overall, 5-7 MVC) would rally. Kelsie Laughlin found the floor with a kill and followed it with a service ace to open a 5-0 SIU spurt which gave the Salukis a 20-17 lead. Bradley scored three consecutive points to tie the set at 20-20, but Southern Illinois countered with three consecutive points to take a 23-20 advantage. A Marina Medic kill and Bradley service error helped the Salukis to a 25-22 second set victory.

The score was tied 12-12 when the Salukis broke open the third set with an 8-2 run to take a 20-14 lead. Bradley scored consecutive points on back-to-back kills by Reichel to pull within four points 20-16, but SIU would answer with four straight points to take a commanding 24-16 lead. The Salukis would finish out the match with a 25-18 win.

Collins led the Braves with nine kills, while Reichel and freshman Megan Schmidt (Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic) each added eight kills. Freshman Rachelle Dejean (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) tallied a team-best 10 digs, helping Bradley to a 49-43 edge in digs. The Braves were unable to overcome 11 service errors and six SIU aces in the three-set loss.

Jennifer Berwanger led the Salukis offensively with 10 kills and she also added nine digs. Kristy Elswick recorded a match-high 11 digs to lead the SIU defensive efforts.

Bradley returns to action next Saturday when the Braves play host to the Northern Iowa. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Markin Family Student Recreation Center.