Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball Hosts Wichita State & SMS In Crucial MVC Matches
10/29/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 29, 2003
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois (6-17, 2-9 MVC) will host two of the MVC's top teams this weekend in crucial matches that may determine if the Salukis reach the MVC Tournament for the second straight year. Third place Wichita State (15-7, 8-3 MVC) and first place SMS (19-3, 11-0 MVC) will face SIU on Friday and Saturday respectively at 7 p.m. in Davies Gym.
The Salukis are in eighth place (the top six advance to the MVC Tournament), currently three matches behind Indiana State (10-10, 5-6 MVC) for the final tournament spot, with seven matches to play.
"I think we need to split these two matches to keep us in the race (for the MVC Tournament). That's our goal for the weekend. We'll take it one match at a time and try to win Friday and if not we'll try to get a win Saturday," said SIU head coach Sonya Locke.
"The first time we played these teams they controlled the tempo of the matches and we can't allow that to happen. These teams are tough, so we need to pass well, serve well and play great defense."
The Salukis were swept by Wichita State and SMS on the road in their first meetings this season. WSU has won its last three matches, while the Bears have won 13 straight matches, including a win over nationally-ranked Northern Iowa, since a loss to #1 USC in early October. SIU leads the all-time series with Wichita State 18-15 and trails SMS 23-13 in their series with the Bears. The Salukis are coming off 3-0 losses on the road last weekend to Bradley and Northern Iowa.
SIU is led by senior Kelly Harman (211 kills, 2.64 kpg, 198 digs, 2.47 dpg, 17 aces), juniors Carrie Shephard (143 kills, 68 blocks, .82 bpg, 22 aces) and Erica Miller (196 digs, 2.42 dpg) and sophomore Marissa Washington (155 kills, .279 Hitting %, 63 blocks, .76 bpg, 17 aces), who leads SIU with a .323 MVC hitting percentage.
The Salukis have also received major contributions from freshmen Holly Marita (796 assists, 9.15 apg, 183 digs, 2.10 dpg, 28 aces), Haley Hann (209 kills, 2.40 kpg, 51 blocks, 95 digs, 16 aces), Jene' Pulliam (138 kills, 2.34 kpg, 116 digs) and Ashley Saverine (130 kills, 2.17 kpg, 147 digs, 2.45 dpg).
