Southern Illinoise University Athletics
2003 Volleyball Schedule
02/20/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Feb. 20, 2003
Carbondale, Ill. - SIU volleyball will open the 2003 campaign in Davies Gym for the first time since 2000 hosting the Saluki/Best Inns Invitational Aug. 29-30. The schedule highlights competition against Big Ten school the University of Iowa and Atlantic Coast Conference school Duke University, along with nationally ranked Missouri Valley Conference foe the (#9)University of Northern Iowa.
"We're excited to start out at home," said head coach Sonya Locke. "That was very important to us because we're going to be a fairly young squad next year. We're fortunate to have [the University of] Denver, Austin Peay [State University], and the [University of] Iowa come to us."
SIU opens play Friday, August 29 against Austin Peay. The Salukis will then play Denver and Iowa on Saturday, August 30.
In addition, SIU is scheduled in two other tournaments with the Duke Invitational (Sept. 5-6) and the Butler Invitational (Sept. 12-13) following the season opener. The Duke Invitational will also feature the University of Buffalo and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Along with Butler, SIU will face Appalachian State University and University at Albany.
"The other tournaments are going to be quality, competitive tournaments that are in line with the level of competition I think we need to be playing next season," said Locke.
"Conference is going to pose it's difficult self again. We're going to be in an uphill struggle the whole way, but that was expected after all the losses after last season, and we're not going to shy away."
Along with MVC opponents, SIU will face Southeast Missouri State University, the University of Tennessee-Martin, and Murray State University.
"The schedule is going to allow us to have to play hard and do the things we have to do."
Southern Illinois finished with a 23-10 overall record and was third in conference play with a 12-6 mark. SIU closed out the season as runners-up to UNI at the MVC championships.
