Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball Travels To Butler Invitational This Weekend
09/11/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 11, 2003
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
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After picking up its first win of the season last week at the Duke Classic, the SIU volleyball team will be on the road for the second straight week, when the Salukis compete at the Butler Invitational in Indianapolis, Indiana on September 12-13. The Salukis (1-5) will face host Butler (6-2), Appalachian State (2-4) and undefeated San Francisco (8-0).
"We're looking for our chemistry to get better. We're not going to giving them any unrealistic expectations early in the season. We need to get better ball control and hopefully that will lead to a better and more multiple offense than last weekend," said SIU head coach Sonya Locke.
For the second straight weekend, the young Saluki squad will face experienced teams on the road in Butler (four starters returning), Appalachian State (five starters) and San Francisco (six starters). San Francisco has already nationally-ranked Washington State and Wichita State earlier this season.
"These are good teams. They rally well, serve well and have good ball control and good hitters. Anyone we play will be more experienced than us for the most part. We expect them to be more consistent than we are, which poses a great challenge for us, but we don't expect anything less than a good effort from the team," added Locke.
"We're playing on the road and anytime you play in someone else's gym your uncomfortable until you start playing, so it's a matter of how you handle it mentally. We prepare them the best we can and not worry about the things we can't control."
SIU picked up its first win last week at the Duke Classic, beating Charlotte 3-2 and lost to Buffalo 3-1 and Duke 3-0. The Salukis face Butler on Friday at 7 p.m. and Appalachian State on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. before finishing with San Francisco Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Southern Illinois led by senior Kelly Harman (2.70 kills per game, 3.17 digs per game), freshman setter Holly Marita (9.39 assists per game, 2.61 dpg) and freshman outside hitter Ashley Saverine (2.33 kpg, 2.86 dpg).
