Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball Falls In Three To Northern Iowa
10/04/2002 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 4, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - It was a bitter sweet moment for Southern Illinois volleyball Friday night in Davies Gym. Missouri Valley Conference foe (#10)Northern Iowa swept the Salukis in three games (30-22, 30-21, 30-23), but senior Kristie Kemner (OH, Quincy, Ill., Quincy Notre Dame HS) recorded enough digs to take the number one spot on the all-time SIU career dig list.
Kemner, who has started since she was a freshman, surpassed Debbie Barr's (1996-1999) mark of 1,113 digs in the first game, and posted 12 for the evening to raise her digs number to 1,122 for her career.
"It's fun to have those things happen," said coach Sonya Locke of Kemner's milestone. "She's worked very hard to be the player she is today. We're happy for her. She deserves it. Tonight was a joy on one hand and not on the other."
Kemner recorded another kill-dig double-double adding 14 kills to her 12 digs. She had a .281 hitting percentage for the night.
Senior Qiana Nelson (OH, Kankakee, Ill., Kankakee HS) had 11 digs for Southern Illinois.
The Salukis were out blocked by the Panthers, 11-5. Northern Iowa had 10 aces to SIU's three.
"We didn't pass like we usually do," said Locke. "Our defense wasn't as sharp."
UNI hit .359 to SIU's .216 and earned 56 kills to the Salukis' 39.
Southern Illinois (11-6, 4-3) will host Bradley, who currently holds the top spot in the conference, Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Davies Gym.
