Southern Illinois University
Drake
Volleyball sweeps Drake to open conference play
09/15/2006 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 15, 2006
By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com
DES MOINES, Iowa - The Southern Illinois volleyball team picked up its fourth sweep in five games to pull its season record above .500 for the first time since 2002 at 6-5. The Salukis opened the Missouri Valley Conference season taking three games from Drake at the Knapp Center Friday night.
In game one, the Salukis were down 29-26 and answered three straight points to tie the game at 29. The Salukis eventually won the game 32-30 and the next two games 30-22, 30-24.
Sophomore Kristie Berwanger came through with some clutch serves to keep SIU in the game.
Saluki head coach Brenda Winkeler couldn't say enough about her team's ability to step up in close games and take control.
"We've come back to win a lot of close games this season," Winkeler said. "We won some close games against Austin Peay and a couple close games with SEMO. Tonight was just another example. Kristie Berwanger came through with big serves. She struggled early on and came back to play her game."
Freshman Chandra Roberson led the Salukis hitting .455 in the game with 12 kills, one solo and four block assists. Senior Haley Hann added 11 kills, four block assists and five digs.
Berwanger contributed nine kills, one solo and three block assists, Johannah Yutzy adding eight kills and just one error in 21 swings for a .333 average.
"It was a great night for Chandra," Winkeler added. "She was very active at the net, she really played a great match. Holly Marita came in and gave us a spark off the bench. She stepped up mid-way through the second game and the entire third game."
Marita finished the game with 16 assists, while fellow setter Erika Bartruff added 17 assists and four digs.
Kristy Elswick also delivered a solid performance with a match-high 21 digs.
The Salukis' big test will be come Saturday when they face the league-leading Creighton Bluejays who sit at 9-1 this season.
