Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball Hosts Evansville In MVC Play
10/16/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 16, 2003
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
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CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois (5-15, 1-7 MVC) will wrap up the first half of the Missouri Valley Conference season on Saturday, when the Salukis host MVC rival Evansville (6-14, 1-7 MVC) in Davies Gym at 7 p.m. Both teams are tied for ninth and trying to reach the top six for a berth in the MVC Tournament.
"We're trying to do our best to stay in the race. We (SIU and Evansville) have pretty identical records. We're just going to try to take advantage of this opportunity. Evansville has always been real scrappy on defense and they are again this season. We have a good rivalry because we're travel partners and our matches are usually dogfights. I don't expect anything less this year," said SIU head coach Sonya Locke.
"Both teams lost to Illinois State in five games, so it sounds like we're pretty evenly matched. I told our kids that I think the team that makes the least amount of unforced errors will win. Evansville is pretty well rounded and we have to be prepared to handle their team and not any one player. We still have to play good defense, have good ball control and serve tough. That's never going to change."
The Salukis have won two of their last four matches, but are coming off a 3-0 loss to Murray State on Tuesday. After opening the season 5-5, Evansville lost nine straight matches before Tuesday's 3-0 win over Belmont. SIU leads the series 23-3 and swept the Purple Aces in 2002. The Salukis are 18-3 against Evansville under Locke.
The Salukis are led by senior Kelly Harman (184 kills, 2.63 kpg, 180 digs, 2.57 dpg, 12 aces), juniors Carrie Shephard (127 kills, 65 blocks, .89 bpg, 18 aces) and Erica Miller (164 digs, 2.34 dpg), sophomore Marissa Washington (130 kills, .264 Hitting %, 53 blocks, .73 bpg, 12 aces) and freshmen Holly Marita (702 assists, 9.24 apg, 169 digs, 2.22 dpg, 26 aces), Haley Hann (176 kills, 2.32 kpg, 46 blocks, 92 digs, 16 aces), Jene' Pulliam (115 kills, 2.40 kpg, 89 digs, 1.85 dpg) and Ashley Saverine (114 kills, 2.15 kpg, 132 digs, 2.49 dpg).
