Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Sw Missouri St (MVC Tournament)
Volleyball Knocks Off SMS For MVC Championship Bid
11/23/2002 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 23, 2002
Peoria, Ill. - Southern Illinois University advanced to the State Farm/Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Championships for the first time in school history with a five game victory over Southwest Missouri State Saturday evening (31-33, 30-27, 20-30, 30-28, 15-13).
SIU last played in a league championship match in 1985 when they were defeated by Illinois State in the Gateway Conference final. It is also the first time since 1991 that the number one and two seeds will not play each other in the finals.
"It's great. I'm happy for my team," said coach Sonya Locke. "They deserve it."
SMS edged the Salukis in the first game with the Bears hitting .327 to SIU's .250. It's the 10th time this season SIU has taken an opponent past the 30 point mark.
Southern Illinois won the second game pounding out 20 kills, hitting .295 to SMS's .238.
The Bears were down 19-16 before putting away SIU in the third game.
The Salukis started out the fourth game down 5-0 before receiving a side-out. The Bears led Southern Illinois 16-8 before the SIU began a steady comeback. Amber Britton (senior, OH, Louisville, Ill., North Clay HS) served seven points to give the Salukis a 28-25 lead. With the game tied at 28's middle blocker Lindsey Schultz (senior, Valpariaso, Ind., Wheeler HS) earned her 22nd kill of the game. Senior Qiana Nelson (OH, Kankakee, Ill., Kankakee HS) served game point for the win.
In game five, the teams battled back and forth until SIU took a 6-5 lead and held it throughout the remainder of the game.
Senior outside hitter Kristie Kemner (Quincy, Ill., Quincy Notre Dame HS) recorded a match and career high 30 digs which is tied for second best in league tourney play. She placed herself at the top of SIU's single season dig list with 493 this season. Kemner added 23 kills (.237), six assists, one solo block, and one service ace.
Schultz put down a career and match high 27 kills on 58 attempts with six errors for a .362 hitting percentage. Her 27 kills is seventh best in a Valley tournament. She led the Salukis with four block assists and two solo blocks.
Setter Britten Follett (junior, Marengo, Ill., Marengo HS) dished out 63 assists. She collected nine digs, six kills (.333), and four block assists. Follett has 1353 assists this season and is 20 away from the season assist record held by Debbie Barr.
Yoko Hattori (senior, DS, Chiba, Japan, Chiba HS) recorded 15 digs. Libero Lisa Ciucci (junior, Portage, Mich., Portage Northern HS) added 12 and Nelson 11.
Number three seed SIU will play the winner of top seed #9 University of Northern Iowa and fifth seed Bradley University in the championship match tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. The match will be televised on Fox Sports Net Midwest and Metro Sports, Kansas City.
