Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Northern Iowa
Volleyball falls to first-place Panthers at home
10/24/2009 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 24, 2009
By Shalae Patrick
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Northern Iowa volleyball team extended their win-streak to 18 matches, remaining unbeaten in Missouri Valley Conference play, taking down Southern Illinois at home in four sets, 25-12, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, Saturday night in Davies Gym.
The balanced Panthers (20-2, 11-0 MVC), receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll, put five hitters in double-figure kills, hitting .261 on the night to take down the Salukis (15-7, 4-7 MVC) for the second time this season.
SIU hit -.098 in the first set with 10 errors and just six kills in 41 attacks, held to just 12 points.
"We didn't do the little things in that first set," Saluki head coach Brenda Winkeler said. "We weren't staying on our base, (UNI) was tipping in front of us and we needed to take control and not be afraid to put the ball down."
The Salukis led most of the second set until the 17-all mark. The Panthers pulled away only to have the Salukis come back for the 22-22 tie before UNI recorded three-straight kills for the win.
Southern was fired up after the break up by as many as six points, 18-12. The Panthers worked their way back tying the set at both 21 and 22-all before Jennifer Berwanger recorded two-straight kills followed by a Chandra Roberson kill for the win.
The fourth and final set was tied 11 times and changed hands five times before the Panthers scored three of the final four points for the set and match win.
Berwanger recorded her 40th-career double-double with 17 kills and 14 digs, adding one solo and one block assist, hitting a team-best .349.
Sydney Clark came off the bench for 11 kills and a solo block, while Lauren Blumhorst recorded a team-high 22 digs. Rachael Brown recorded 39 assists, adding nine digs and four kills.
"Overall I thought we played very well," Winkeler added, "especially our defense - really hard and fiery. We don't always do that and I thought tonight we did that against a top-30 team in the country."
Michelle Burow led UNI with 13 kills, while Shannon Aschoff pitched in 12. Bre Payton, Amy Braun and Beth Discher recorded 10 each, Braun adding 13 digs. League-leading libero Ellie Blankenship recorded a match-high 31 digs.
The Salukis return to the road traveling to Indiana State and Illinois State Oct. 30-31.
