Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Northern Iowa
Volleyball Loses Finale 3-1 To Northern Iowa
11/17/2001 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 17, 2001
Carbondale, Ill. - Southern Illinois University (11-19, 5-13 MVC) won a game from #17 Northern Iowa (27-1, 17-1 MVC) for the first time since a 3-2 loss in 1998, but lost its season finale 3-1 on Saturday in Davies Gym.
The Panthers beat the Salukis 30-26, 26-30, 30-23, 30-17. UNI had swept its last eight opponents since its only loss of the year to Bradley on October 19.
"It was a great effort. I think we played well, we just didn't win the match. We didn't quit at the of the season and played hard even though we weren't going to the tournament," said Sonya Locke, Saluki head coach.
"I'm proud of our kids and they worked really hard. I think our seniors went out on a high taking a game from Northern Iowa for the first time since 1998 and playing the way they did by winning three of our last six matches."
The Salukis led game one 17-11 before UNI scored 10 straight points behind the serving of Kim McCaffrey and Jill Arganbright and held off SIU to win 30-26.
SIU jumped out to a 14-8 lead in game two behind the serving of Erica Miller and won the game 30-26 on a Lindsey Schultz kill.
Northern Iowa controlled games three and four and won fairly easily 30-23 and 30-17 to win the match.
Kristie Kemner led SIU with 12 kills and 19 digs, her team leading 16th double-double of the season. Qiana Nelson continued her hot hitting with 14 kills on .308 hitting (14 kills, 2 error, 39 attempts). Her 41 attempts gives her 1107, third best in a season at SIU.
Lindsey Schultz hit .389 (8 kills, 1 error, 18 attempts) in the match and finished the season with a .355 overall hitting percentage and .367 in MVC play. Her .355 hitting percentage is second best for a season in SIU history only behind head coach Sonya Locke's .369 back in 1981.
Senior's Megan Baumstark (44 assists, 8 digs), Jenny Noel (9 kills, .350 hitting percentage, 9 digs, solo block) and Lisa Vodin (9 digs) played their last match for the Salukis. Noel's lone solo block gives her 36 for a season, tying Dana Olden for ninth place in a season and passing Locke and Deb Heyne who had 35 each.
The Salukis out hit (.258 to .243) UNI but were out blocked (12 to 6) in the loss including 24 block assists for UNI to just 6 for SIU.
