Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Drake University
Volleyball falls at home to Drake
10/16/2009 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 16, 2009
By Shalae Patrick
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois volleyball team fell to Drake in four sets Friday night in Missouri Valley Conference play despite playing in front of a school-record crowd of 880 fans in Davies Gym.
The Salukis (13-5, 3-5 MVC) trailed the entire the first set 25-18, plagued by poor hitting with eight attack errors. SIU came up big in set two, jumping out to an 11-0 lead to come back and beat Drake (14-7, 4-4 MVC), 25-14, before falling in the final two sets, 25-23, 25-19. The Salukis were up by as many as five in the third set before falling in the closest set of the night. Drake led the entire final set, out-hitting SIU 21 kills to 11 for the set and the match win.
"We were up in that third set and we let them come back in and we gave them opportunities to beat us," Saluki head coach Brenda Winkeler said. "If you do that with any team, they are going to take advantage and that's what happened."
Southern hit .145 in the match, with 23 errors in 165 attacks.
Jennifer Berwanger led the Salukis with her 37th career double-double, with 13 kills, 11 digs and a solo block. Alicia Johnson added her fourth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 10 digs. Alysia Mayes led the Salukis hitting .429 with just one error in 14 attempts registering seven kills.
Chandra Roberson recorded seven kills, adding two solo and one block assist.
Rachael Brown led the Saluki offense with 40 assists, while Lauren Blumhorst paced the defense with a match-high 19 digs.
The Bulldogs put three players in double-figure kills led by Angela Bys with 14 kills. Alisa DeBerg Roth and Michelle Reidy pitched in 11 each.
"We just need to find some consistent play from someone and get some leadership on the floor," Winkeler added. "That's what it is going to take to beat teams and hopefully we'll have that (Saturday). It is a crucial match and we need to come out and play consistent with a better offensive set."
The Salukis return to action Saturday night when they host Creighton at 7 p.m. Saturday's match is "Dig for the Cure" night in Davies Gym to raise awareness for breast cancer. Two current SIU players, Kelsie Laughlin and Laura Thole, have family members that have been affected by the disease.
