Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Evansville
Volleyball comes from behind to ace Evansville, 3-2
10/12/2006 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 12, 2006
By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Southern Illinois volleyball team battled back from a two-game deficit to win three straight along with the Missouri Valley Conference match up over Evansville, 3-2, Thursday night at the Carson Center.
The Purple Aces (10-10, 4-5) came out in games one and two, 30-27, 30-28, but the Salukis (9-10, 4-5) didn't give up. SIU charged back, playing what SIU head coach Brenda Winkeler believes the best match from a Southern team since she took over, to win three straight, 30-23, 31-29, 15-13.
SIU was down 10-5 in game five to come back for the victory and break a three-match losing streak.
"It was just a great team effort," Winkeler said. "A great win on the road. We played hard and refused to lose."
Johannah Yutzy led the Salukis with a match-high 20 kills, adding two solo and six block assists on the night.
Kristie Berwanger played through a sprained ankle to post her seventh double-double of the season with 14 kills and 14 digs.
Chandra Roberson and Haley Hann chipped in nine kills each, Roberson adding one solo and four block assists, while Hann added five block assists.
The Salukis served up a season-high 12 service aces, including four from setter Holly Marita, also posting 33 assists and 12 digs for her 29th career double-double. Fellow setter Erika Bartuff added two service aces and 19 assists, while Kelsie Laughlin and libero Kristy Elswick each added two aces.
Elswick moved herself comfortably into the school record books with 27 digs. Her season total of 391 places the sophomore fifth all-time for digs in a season.
Ashley Saverine added 15 digs, while Laughlin added 13.
"We just out-worked them," Winkeler added. "It was a team win, a lot of people really came through."
The Salukis really out-worked the Aces at the net, posting 13.0 total team blocks to Evansville's 4.0. Southern, ranked third in blocking this season in The Valley, finished with a season-high six block solos and 20 block assists on the night.
SIU will take the weekend off before traveling north to take on Illinois State and Indiana State Oct. 20-21.
