Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball Hosts SMS, Wichita State This Weekend
11/12/2002 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 12, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - Southern Illinois has the number three spot in the Missouri Valley Conference rankings with an 11-5 mark and a 20-8 overall record coming into this weekend's matches against conference foes Southwest Missouri State and Wichita State. The Salukis will play SMS Friday at 7 p.m. and Wichita State Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Davies Gym.
"We need to keep ourselves in a position to not be in a tie-breaker situation going into the conference championships next weekend," said coach Sonya Locke. "We're practicing hard this week. We need to keep our errors down, and make our passes sharper, and play better defense."
SMS is the number two team in the conference with a 14-2 mark after falling to #8Northern Iowa in five game and beating Bradley in five over the weekend. The Bears post a 20-5 overall record.
Wichita State is 16-12 and 9-7 in league play. The Shockers swept Bradley Friday night, but lost to UNI Saturday in three games Saturday.
"We're going to have to go after both of these teams," said Locke. "They are two totally different teams and we'll have to pay attention to different things with both of them. Friday night it will be a matter of reading their setter. Saturday, we're going to have to line up our blockers with their hitters. We'll have to put up a good block against them."
Earlier this season, SIU lost to SMS but defeated Wichita State.
Admission Saturday--With the donation of a non-perishable food item, admission to Saturday's match against Wichita State will be $1.00. The food drive is sponsored by Saluki Athletics and the Student Athletic Advisory Board. All proceeds from the food drive will benefit the Carbondale Women's Center.
