Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Creighton
Volleyball Falls 3-2 To Creighton In MVC Opener
09/19/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2003
By Lou Antoine
SIUSalukis.com
OMAHA, Neb. - SIU Senior Kelly Harman tied a career-high with 20 kills and added 14 digs in a 3-2 loss to Creighton (3-7, 1-0 MVC) in front of a record crowd of 806 at the first volleyball match ever played in the Omaha Civic Center on Friday in Omaha, Nebraska. SIU (2-8, 0-1 MVC) lost the MVC opener for both teams 27-30, 31-29, 20-30, 30-24, 5-15 and is 1-2 in five game matches in 2003.
"We asked the team to make some adjustments defensively and we struggled with the changes. We really didn't control the ball the fifth game and they jumped out to an 8-1 lead. We didn't pass well and they blocked us tonight," said Sonya Locke, SIU head coach.
Creighton set a new school record with 21 blocks to just seven for SIU. CU's Ashley Williams had a record 16 blocks in the match including 12 block assists and added 10 kills with no errors in 25 attempts (.400). CU's Leah Ratzlaff led the Bluejays with 23 kills. SIU hit -.120 in game five with just four kills and seven errors in 25 attempts. The Salukis hit .184, while Creighton hit .264.
In addition to Harman's career night and .444 hitting percentage (20 kills, four errors, 36 attempts), freshman setter Holly Marita picked up a career-best 58 assists to go with five digs. Fellow freshman Ashley Saverine had 14 kills and 8 digs and Haley Hann added 13 kills and 5 digs. Junior Erica Miller chipped in with 15 digs.
The Salukis wrap up their third straight weekend on the road with an MVC match against Drake (7-5, 0-1 MVC) on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. in Des Moines, Iowa. Drake lost at home to Evansville 3-1 on Friday.
