Southern Illinoise University Athletics
SIU Volleyball Team Opens Conference Play With A Win
09/13/2002 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 13, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - It was a dawg fight at the Heskett Center in Wichita, Kan., but the Southern Illinois University volleyball team prevailed, and earned its first Missouri Valley Conference victory in the conference opener over Wichita State Friday night in four games (30-27, 21-30, 34-32, 30-23).
Coach Sonya Locke was happy with her senior leadership. Kristie Kemner (senior, OH, Quincy, Ill., Quincy Notre Dame HS) showed why she was a preseason all-conference pick as she recorded her seventh kill-dig double-double of the year and 43rd of her career by leading the Salukis with 17 kills (.304 hitting percentage) and 20 digs. Senior middle blocker Lindsey Schultz added 16 kills on 33 attacks for a .364 hitting percentage. Qiana Nelson (senior, OH, Kankakee, Ill., Kankakee HS) contributed nine kills and nine digs.
"Wichita State is a good defensive team," said Locke. "We had to maneuver our offense around them to put away some kills."
Junior setter Britten Follett (Marengo, Ill., Marengo HS) dished out 38 assists, and sophomore defensive specialist Erica Miller (Middlebury, Ind., Northridge HS) had 10 digs.
The Shockers move to 5-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference. SIU is 7-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference.
The Salukis face Southwest Missouri State Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Springfield, Mo. The Bears are 5-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play with a 3-0 win over Evansville Friday night.
