Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball celebrates 50th Anniversary
10/29/2008 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 29, 2008
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University volleyball team is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary this weekend. Former players and coaches will get together in honor of fifty years of Saluki volleyball.
Head coach Brenda Winkeler is excited about the event and having former coaches, Sonya Locke, Charlotte West and JoAnne Thorpe back at Davies Gym.
"With a lot of coaches coming back, I think it will be a fun event," Winkeler said. "Having more recent players such as Kari Buehlhorn, Ashley Saverine, Haley Hann, and Johannah Yutzy back will be fun too because those are people that I actually coached."
The celebration kicks off Saturday morning with an alumni match at 9 a.m. in Davies Gym, followed by an SIU Volleyball tailgate on Saluki Row beginning at 11:30 a.m. During halftime of the Saluki football game, former players and coaches from the past 50 years will be recognized on the field, as well as that night on the court during the match against Bradley.
Meanwhile, the current Salukis are preparing for matches against Northern Iowa and Bradley. UNI is currently ranked No. 2 in the Missouri Valley Conference, with a 9-2 conference record, 19-4 overall. Southern Illinois last played the Panthers on Oct. 4 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Winkeler is confident about the match, saying the Salukis are playing really good volleyball right now.
"The key is going to be our offense," Winkeler said. "Northern Iowa is a little bit ahead of us in service aces, blocking and defense, so we're going to have to play one of our best matches. But at home in Davies a lot of things have been happening."
The Salukis turn around Saturday to host Bradley, the No. 10 ranked team in the MVC. The Braves are currently 5-19 overall, 1-10 in conference play. Southern Illinois defeated Bradley in five sets on Oct. 3.
"The last time we played Bradley, we played very poorly," Winkeler said. "But they're a team that just got their first league victory. Weird things have been happening in the league, so every night in the Valley is definitely a challenge."
Both matches this weekend will begin at 7 p.m. at Davies Gymnasium.
