Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Louisiana-Monroe
Volleyball Opens Season with Sweep Over Louisiana-Monroe
02/22/2001 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 1, 2000
Carbondale, Ill. -
The Southern Illinois University (1-0) Volleyball team opened the 2000 season with a 15-3, 15-3, 15-13 sweep of the University of Louisiana - Monroe (0-1) at the Saluki Best Inns Invitational September 1 in Davies Gym.
"It's nice ---I expected to win this match. I have high expectations of this group. We played good defense with 33 digs and 19 blocks," Saluki Head Coach Sonya Locke said."Our hitting percentage was 24% and if we are around 25 % we can win our matches. We have not blocked well in the past and to see three team blocks a game was great and I'm happy about that."
The Salukis won't be able to revel in the season opening victory with two matches on Saturday, September 2, at the Saluki Best Inns Invitational at 12 and 2 p.m.
"Long Island and Murray State will be better competition for us and we hope to climb the ladder and get better with every match, which is exactly what I prefer to do. We have to work on tempo and learning how to control the match and Saturday will be two great opportunities to do that," added Locke.
A great group of fans at the first season opener since 1989 provided a first for the Saluki volleyball program, before the contest even started on Friday evening.
"We had our first volleyball tailgate before the game tonight and that was great. We love it. When we have a group support us like that the kids enjoy it and they deserve to have people support them all painted up in Davies Gym. They work hard and when great fans come out like that and support them it's nice," Locke stated. "I'd like to see more people in the stands. Volleyball is an exciting sport and we want to put together an exciting product for the Saluki fans."
In the first match of the day, Murray State University (1-0) swept Long Island University (1-0) by a 15-4, 15-7, 15-1 score.
The Saluki Best Inns Invite continues on Saturday, September 2, with matches at 12 p.m. (Southern Illinois vs. Long Island), 2 p.m. (Murray State vs. Louisiana-Monroe), 4:30 p.m. (Long Island vs. Louisiana-Monroe), and 7 p.m. (Southern Illinois vs. Murray State).
