CARBONDALE, Ill. – Junior Jessie Tulacka (Westmont, Ill./Downers Grove North) and freshman Taylor Thiele (Aurora, Neb./Aurora) tied for team-high honors with eight kills each, but Bradley couldn't keep pace with a Southern Illinois squad which collected seven aces and hit .301 as the Salukis topped the Braves 25-12, 25-18, 25-22 Saturday afternoon at Davies Gym.

Southern Illinois (8-9 overall, 2-3 MVC) got off to a strong start, hitting .400 in the first frame and took control of the opener with an 8-0 run to build a commanding 22-8 advantage.  Meg Viggars notched five kills, one ace and a pair of blocks to help power the Salukis to a 25-12 opening-set win.

Bradley (0-16 overall, 0-6 MVC) was within striking distance in the second set at 15-14 following a Thiele kill, but SIU rattled off five straight points and pushed the lead to as many as seven points 22-15.  Southern Illinois went on to take the second set 25-18.

Like the second set, Bradley trailed 15-14 in the third set before SIU was able to take control.  Three consecutive BU errors helped the Salukis build a five-point edge (20-15).  The Braves were within four points at 20-16 after a Jamie Livaudais (Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit) kill, but Southern Illinois got back-to-back points to push the lead to six and closed out the match with a 25-22 victory. 

Thiele tied Tulacka for the team lead with eight kills to become the first Bradley freshman with 150 kills and 150 digs in a season since 2011.  Sophomore Melissa Hoerber (Fulton, Mo./Fulton) led the Braves with 11 digs.

Viggars paced Southern Illinois with 10 kills, while hitting .444, in addition to collecting 16 assists, one ace, three digs and two blocks.  Taylor Pippen owned a .455 attack percentage and finished with seven kills, while Alex Rivera collected 12 digs and a pair of aces to help lead the Salukis.

Bradley will host I-74 rival Illinois State Friday (7 p.m.) at Renaissance Coliseum in the team's annual pink match to help support Team Bradley and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.