Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball Awaits NCAA Tournament At-Large Bid
11/29/2002 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 29, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University volleyball team will find out Sunday if its best season in 16 years is will earn the team an at-large bid to the 2002 NCAA Tournament. The brackets will be announced on Sunday at 8 p.m. on ESPN News.
"I think we have a slim shot at a tournament bid, but it's still a shot. We won 23 games and have played well down the stretch. I think we deserve a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament," said Sonya Locke, SIU head coach and MVC Coach of the Year.
SIU is coming off a 23-10 campaign, including a runner-up finish in the MVC Tournament and a 12-6 regular season third-place finish. SIU's 23-10 record is the best since 1985, when the Salukis went 26-11 and advanced to its only other Gateway or MVC final in school history.
SIU's NCAA At-Large Tournament Credentials
Headliners
* OH Kristie Kemner -- led the MVC in overall kpg (4.74) and dpg (4.16) and was fifth in aces per game (.39) ... led MVC in league play in kpg (5.09) and dpg (4.35) ... set SIU career records in kills (1660), attempts (4359), digs (1355) and double-doubles (60) ... set single season records in kills (573), attempts (1450), digs (503) and attempts in a match (74). Had 30 digs in MVC semifinal (second-best in Valley history) ... Named MVC Player of the Week Oct. 7.
* MB Lindsey Schultz -- finished fourth in the Vally in hitting percentage (.338), fifth in kpg (3.67) and ninth in aces per game (.36) ...had 27 kills in MVC semifinal win over SMS (7th best in Valley history) ... second at SIU in career hitting percentage (.311), fourth in career block assists (284), ninth in block solos (71)and ninth in block assists for a season (93) ... Named MVC Player of the Week Sept. 2.
2002 History
* Posted a 23-10 record, the most wins since 1985 (17 years)
* Head Coach Sonya Locke was named MVC Coach of the Year
* Finished runner-up to #8 Northern Iowa at the MVC Tournament
* Kemner and Schultz were named to the MVC All-Tournament Team
* Kemner and Schultz were named First Team All-MVC and S Britten Follett earned Second Team All-MVC honors
* Finished third in the MVC, tying a school-high with a 12-6 league record
* Won the Southwest Texas State Classic and the Evansville Invitational
* Schultz was the Southwest Texas State tournament MVP
* Swept Bradley, the lone team to beat No. Iowa in the Valley, when they were getting votes and ranked #39 in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Poll
* Beat SMS twice in a one-week period when the Bears were ranked 7th in the Central Region
* Finished 7-1 in nuetral site games (Only loss was to #8 No. Iowa in MVC Final)
* Schultz (first team) and Kemner (second team) were both named to the Verizon Academic All-District V University Division Team
* Had 25% (six) of the 24 student-athletes on the MVC Scholar Athlete Team including Kemner, Schultz and Follett (First Team)
