Southern Illinois University
Bradley
Volleyball battles Bradley, 3-1
10/28/2006 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 28, 2006
By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois volleyball kept a Missouri Valley Conference tournament birth alive with a 3-1 victory over Bradley Saturday night in Davies Gym.
Aggressive serving and a tough block helped the Salukis (11-12, 6-7 MVC) to their 11th win of the season, the most since 2002.
The Braves (6-19, 3-10 MVC), coming off a big win over Evansville Friday night, kept themselves in each game with their scrappy defense, finishing the match with 100 digs and 9.0 team blocks.
"We played very hard," Saluki head coach Brenda Winkeler said. "Bradley really played great defense and dug a lot of balls. We really had to match them defensively to win each game."
The Salukis answered with a match-high 30 digs from libero Kristy Elswick. The sophomore jumped to fourth on the single-season list with 474, just two digs away from third and just 30 away from the record. She also climbed to ninth in the career books, less than 50 digs away from 1,000 career digs.
"Elswick dug up a lot of balls for us," Winkeler added. "She really shows a lot of leadership on the court."
Game one switched leads seven times and was tied 10 times, before SIU pulled away for good. The Braves moved within one point at 29-28 before a Haley Hann kill ended the game at 30-28.
The Braves charged out in game two with an early 5-1 lead before the Salukis answered with a 13-4 run to surge ahead 14-9. The Salukis continued to roll until the Braves held them at game point for four straight points to tie the game at 29-all.
Both teams swapped points to bring the to a tie at 30-30 before a BU kill and a SIU attack error gave the Braves the 32-30 win and the match a 1-1 tie.
Southern answered in game three, except for a 9-9 tie, leading the entire game. The Braves battled, coming within one point at 29-28 before a kill by Johannah Yutzy ended the game, 30-28.
The Salukis led most of game four, but the Braves kept it tight until 25-23, when SIU went on a 5-1 run for the game and match, 30-24.
"(Kristie) Berwanger and Yutzy played very well tonight," Winkeler said. "Holly (Marita) was out there fighting, playing well defensively."
Berwanger led the Salukis with 16 kills, adding seven digs and five block assists, while Yutzy posted 13 kills, one solo and three block assists for the Salukis.
Chandra Roberson chipped in 11 kills, two solo and career-high nine block assists, while Hann added 10 kills, six block assists.
Marita posted her 30th career double-double with 33 assists and 20 digs, while Kelsie Laughlin added 15 digs.
Southern tied a season-best 26 block assists and 12 service aces, including three service aces each from Marita, Elswick and Kari Buehlhorn.
The Salukis will travel travel next weekend to league-leading Wichita State and Missouri State Nov. 3-4.
