Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball Faces Evansville In MVC Play
11/12/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 12, 2003
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
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CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois (7-20, 3-12 MVC) faces rival Evansville (6-21, 1-14 MVC) on the road Friday with a new goal of ten wins, after its quest to reach the 2003 MVC Volleyball Tournament ended last weekend with a loss to Illinois State.
"Our goal is to get to double digit wins and we have seven wins, so we want to win the last three matches. Down the stretch we want to focus on what we need to do. We still have to serve tough, pass well and play great defense," SIU head coach Sonya Locke said. "We're trying to improve our hitting percentage and we did it once last week (Indiana State, .247) and want to do it consistently the last three matches. The kids said they want to keep working hard, get better and reach ten wins so we'll prepare them to do that to end the season on a positive note heading into the spring."
The Salukis are in eighth place and can finish seventh at best by winning the three matches. SIU beat Evansville 3-2 in Carbondale earlier this season. SIU leads the series with the Purple Aces 24-3. Southern Illinois split two matches last week, beating Indiana State 3-1, before losing 3-0 to Illinois State and being eliminated from the MVC Tournament.
The Salukis are led by senior Kelly Harman (238 kills, 2.59 kpg, 228 digs, 2.48 dpg, 18 aces), juniors Carrie Shephard (167 kills, 78 blocks, .82 bpg, 24 aces) and Erica Miller (235 digs, 2.50 dpg) and sophomore Marissa Washington (183 kills, .273 hitting percentage, 81 blocks, .84 bpg, 20 aces), who leads SIU with a .300 MVC hitting percentage.
The Salukis have also received major contributions from freshmen Holly Marita (881 assists, 8.81 apg, 210 digs, 2.10 dpg, 28 aces), Haley Hann (227 kills, 2.27 kpg, 58 blocks, 105 digs, 16 aces), Jene' Pulliam (142 kills, 2.25 kpg, 119 digs, 1.89 dpg) and Ashley Saverine (165 kills, 2.26 kpg, 185 digs, 2.53 dpg).
