Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Illinois State
Volleyball Falls To Illinois State 3-2 In MVC Play
10/10/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 10, 2003
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois (4-14, 0-7 MVC) forced a fifth game after trailing 2-1 to Illinois State, but the Redbirds (7-10, 1-5 MVC) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the deciding game behind the serving of Emily Kabbes and beat the Salukis 30-18, 21-30, 30-15, 24-30, 15-8. The win was ISU's first MVC win of the year, while SIU is still looking for its first MVC win in seven matches.
"We have to have better ball control to win matches like this," said Sonya Locke, SIU head coach. "That was the difference in the match tonight."
Kelly Harman's seventh double-double (11 kills, 10 digs) and double figure kills by Jene' Pulliam (11) and Marissa Washington (10) led the SIU attack with strong play from Carrie Shephard (9 kills, 4 blocks), Haley Hann (7 kills) and Erin Strathdee (7 kills, 3 blocks). Setters Monica Laird (24 assists, 5 digs, 3 kills, 3 aces) and Holly Marita (23 assists, 9 digs) and libero Erica Miller (15 digs) also played a key role.
SIU had more kills (59 to 57), digs (67 to 65) and assists (54 to 48), but the Redbirds had more blocks (7 to 5), aces (13 to 7) and a better hitting percentage (.205 to .167). The Salukis could only manage to hit .036 in the final game.
ISU's Kabbes had eight aces in the match, including two aces in the final game to give Illinois State a 14-7 lead and Ashley Grubb's kill followed an SIU kill by Jene' Pulliam to win the match 3-2. It's the second year that the Salukis have lost in five games to Illinois State in Davies Gym.
The Salukis will host Indiana State on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Davies Gym, looking to snap a seven-match MVC losing streak.
