Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Northern Iowa
Volleyball drops close match to Northern Iowa, 3-2
10/31/2008 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 31, 2008
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University volleyball team dropped their match against Northern Iowa, 3-2 (25-22, 25-16, 20-25, 13-25, 11-15).
The Salukis (14-8, 4-7 MVC) grabbed the first point of the match with a kill by Chandra Roberson to give SIU an early 1-0 lead over the Panthers (20-4, 10-2 MVC). The two teams battled through a back and forth first set, but an ace from Kristy Elswick late in the set, followed by an error by Northern Iowa put the Salukis tied 19-19 with the Panthers. Southern went on to win the set, 25-22. Roberson went 5 for 7 hitting .429 to lead the team in the first set.
The Salukis took a 15-6 lead over the Panthers in the second set, holding on for the 25-16 win. Northern Iowa hit .000 against SIU in the set, committing nine errors. Sophomore Jasmine Conner and senior Brooklyn Robbins were leading the Salukis after the second set with three blocks each. The last time SIU had a two-set lead over Northern Iowa was in 1993, when the Salukis swept the Panthers.
Northern Iowa came out with a 4-1 lead over the Salukis in the third set. Down by six late in the set, Roberson served back-to-back aces, putting the Salukis within four of Northern Iowa, 19-23, but the Panthers went on to win the third set, 25-20. In the first three sets of the night, Robbins lead the Salukis with 31 assists, while Bre Payton was leading the Panthers with 14.
The fourth set started as a back-and-forth battle for the lead, with the Panthers edging ahead. Northern Iowa continued their lead throughout the set, grabbing the 25-13 win. Tied 2-2 the two teams started a strong fifth set. The Panthers led off with an ace, followed by a kill, to put them up 2-0 early in the set. Northern Iowa held on to the lead, but the Salukis came back within two points late in the set after an ace from Roberson. The Panthers went on to edge the Salukis, 15-11.
Roberson hit .261 to lead the Salukis, while Robbins grabbed her 26th career double-double with 42 assists and 12 digs. Elswick led the team in digs, posting 18 against the Panthers. The Salukis combined for 13 blocks, 46 kills and 69 digs.
The Salukis will be back in action tomorrow night as they host Bradley. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at Davies Gymnasium.
