Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball travels to Missouri State and Wichita State this weekend
10/08/2009 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 8, 2009
www.SIUSalukis.com
MATCH INFORMATION
Date(s): October 9-10
Location: Springfield, Mo./Wichita, Kan.
Site(s): Hammons Student Center (8,846)/Charles Koch Arena (10,400)
The Series: SIU trails MSU 14-33; SIU trails WSU 18-26
Head Coaches: Brenda Winkeler (148-137 overall, 66-65 at SIU); Melissa Stokes (305-139 overall and at MSU); Chris Lamb (205-89 overall and at WSU)
Saluki Assistant Coaches: Julie Yankus (Associate Head Coach); Katie Carrier; Jimmy White (Student Assistant)
Gametracker: missouristatebears.com/goshockers.com
Video Stream: n/a
Click here for complete match notes
DAWG BITES
The Southern Illinois Volleyball team is in its 52nd year of existence... Head Coach Brenda Winkeler is in her fifth season with the team and holds a 66-65 (.505) record... Last season the Salukis finished with a 17-12 record and were 7-11 in MVC play, finishing in seventh... The Salukis started the 2009 season 10-0 in non-conference play, the best start in school history.
ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
The Salukis return to the road in Missouri Valley Conference action traveling to Missouri State Friday (7 p.m.) and Wichita State Saturday (7 p.m.).
SCOUTING MISSOURI STATE
The Bears, currently receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll, entered the 2009 season with five returning starters and 10 returning letterwinners. MSU, led by Melissa Stokes in her 14th season, recorded a 23-13 record overall last year and a fourth-place finish in the MVC (11-7). This season the Bears are 12-4 overall and 5-0 in The Valley, currently on a five-match win streak. MSU is led by Calli Norman and Addie Foley at 2.81 and 2.78 kills per set respectively. Norman throws up 0.93 blocks per set and Foley adds 2.33 digs per set. Cara Hackmann leads the Bears in digs at 5.45 per set.
SERIES WITH MSU
SIU trails the series with MSU 14-33. The Bears have taken the last nine regular-season contests with the Salukis dating back to 2004 when SIU won in Davies Gym, 3-2. The Salukis have not beaten the Bears in Springfield since 1998.
SCOUTING WICHITA STATE
The Shockers, currently receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll, entered the 2009 season with six returning starters and 10 returning letterwinners. WSU, led by Chris Lamb in his 10th season, recorded a 30-2 record overall last year and a first-place finish in the MVC (18-0). This season the Shockers are 12-3 overall and 3-2 in The Valley, dropping two of their last three matches. WSU is led by Emily Stockman with 3.85 kills, 3.15 digs and 0.56 blocks per set. Sarah McGee adds 2.54 kills and a team-best 1.27 blocks per set, while Mary Elizabeth Hooper adds 10.52 assists per set.
SERIES WITH WSU
SIU trails the series against WSU, 18-26. The Shockers have taken the last 13 regular-season contests with the Salukis dating back to 2002 when SIU beat the Shockers on the road in four sets.
SALUKIS NOT SWEPT
In Southern Illinois' two losses this season, the Salukis put up a fight, taking the match to four sets in each. The Salukis have not been swept since last November 21 at Illinois State.
YEAGER STEPS UP
Saluki freshman defensive specialist Bailey Yeager came off the bench in the third set against Indiana State Saturday to serve 17 straight points for the Salukis, of course with a little help from her teammates.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
Saluki freshman Rachael Brown had a career weekend recording a personal-best 54 assists in a four-set victory over Indiana State Saturday. She also tied a career-best with four block assists in the win.
LEAGUE OPENERS
Since taking over the Saluki program in 2005, head coach Brenda Winkeler is 3-2 in Missouri Valley Conference openers, sweeping Indiana State a year ago and taking down Evansville this season 3-1. In the last 11 seasons, the Salukis are 4-6 in Valley openers.
AMONG THE ELITE
The 2009 Saluki volleyball team started the season 11-0 through the first four weeks of the season. So had 14 other teams in NCAA Division I volleyball including No. 1 Penn St. (12-0), No. 16 Michigan St. (12-0), No. 19 Arizona (11-0), Washington St. (11-0), No. 3 Washington (10-0), No. 7 Oregon (10-0) and No. 2 Texas (7-0).
SALUKIS PERFECT IN NON-CONFERENCE
The 2009 Saluki volleyball team started non-conference play, 10-0, the best season start in program history. The 2008 team started the season 4-1 and back in 1976, 1981, 1985, 2000 and 2002, the Salukis opened 6-1.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING!!!
The 2009 Saluki volleyball team started the season on an 11-match win streak, setting a new school record, before falling to UNI Sept. 25. The previous record of 10 was set Oct. 26 through Nov. 23, 1985. The team also has a 12-match win streak dating back to last season after a victory over Indiana State to end last season Nov. 22, 2008.
ROBERSON OWNS RECORD
After posting three block assists in the Salukis' four-set match over Evansville Sept. 19, senior middle blocker Chandra Roberson has 36 block assists this season, bringing her career total to 334, and a new block assist record at SIU. She passed Sonya Locke (331) and Dana Olden (333) with her total for the milestone.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
The Salukis dot the top-50 national rankings the fourth week of release in five categories. The team ranks 25th in the nation in blocks per set (2.59), 35th in hitting percentage (.254), 50th in assist per set (12.41) and 15th in wins (13-2, .867). Individually, Rachael Brown ranks 40th in the country in assists at 10.69 per set.
SALUKIS ENTER BOOKS
With 26 block assists in a four-set match against Northern Illinois Friday, Aug. 28, the Salukis rank 11th all-time at SIU for team block assists in a match.
PICKED FIFTH IN PRESEASON VALLEY COACHES POLL
The Southern Illinois volleyball team was picked sixth in the 2009 MVC preseason coaches poll for the first time since Winkeler took over the program five years ago. The Salukis finished with 49 points. Southern finished seventh a year ago, missing the tournament by one spot. Defending Champion Wichita State was picked to repeat with 99 points and nine first-place votes.
ROBERSON PEPPERS THE BOOKS
Senior Chandra Roberson has made an impact in the record books after three full seasons at SIU. The middle blocker just broke the record for career block assists at SIU. She is also tied for fifth in solo blocks in a career with 95, and is ninth in career hitting percentage at .271 in over three seasons. If she remains healthy, she should enter the record books in matches played, sets played, career attempts and career kills by the end of the 2009 season.
SALUKI DEPTH
Saluki head coach Brenda Winkeler wasn't kidding when she said the 2009 SIU volleyball team had depth. In one match, Winkeler has used as many as all 14 student-athletes on the court during one match, usually averaging 11 in any match during the first 10 matches of the season. She uses as many as four middle blockers or defensive specialists during a match and three right sides or outside hitters.
BERWANGER RETURNS
Junior outside hitter Jen Berwanger returns after landing on the first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference last season. As a sophomore, she put up impressive numbers that landed her in the top-10 in SIU single-season history in digs (434, 7th), kills per set (3.64, 10th), attempts per set (10.31, 2nd) and attempts (1103, 5th). Berwanger currently ranks sixth in career attempts per set (7.63).
JOHNSON READY TO CONTRIBUTE
Right side Alicia Johnson paid her dues last season as a practice player and is ready to contribute in 2009. The junior sat out last season due to NCAA regulations after transferring from Northwest Missouri State (2007). As a freshman, she played at the University of Iowa (2006).
BROWN EARNS THE TRI-FECTA
Southern Illinois volleyball player Rachael Brown was named the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Week for the third time this season Sept. 21. She averaged 10.51 assists, 0.60 blocks and 1.53 digs per set this season. She also earned the award Aug. 31 and Sept. 14.
BERWANGER EARNS WEEKLY SCHOLAR-ATHLETE HONORS, TWICE
Jennifer Berwanger of Southern Illinois University has been selected the Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week Sept. 1 and Sept. 8. Berwanger, who has a 3.86 cumulative grade-point average in therapeutic recreation and physical therapy, earned all-tournament honors including an MVP nod two weeks in a row.
SALUKIS STRIVE IN THE CLASSROOM
For the fourth-straight season, the Saluki volleyball team was awarded the GamePlan/AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2008-09 season. The team held a 3.56 cumulative grade point average for the 2008-09 school year. They were one of eight Valley teams to be recognized and held the top GPA in the Missouri Valley Conference.
SIU 3.56 • WSU 3.51 • DU 3.50 • INS 3.40 • ILS 3.40 • UE 3.36 • CU 3.35 • BU 3.32
SALUKIS STAY FRESH
The 2009 Saluki freshmen are ready to step in and contribute. The freshmen class is the largest on the team with five newcomers, including high school and club teammates setter Rachael Brown and defensive specialist Bailey Yeager from Brownsburg, Ind. Outside hitter Laura Thole (Breese, Ill.) and middle blocker Alysia Mayes (Ashkum, Ill.) will be expected to contribute to the Saluki offense.
BERWANGER, BROWN EARN WEEKLY HONORS
Saluki volleyball players Jen Berwanger and Rachael Brown were named the Missouri Valley Conference Player and Freshman of the Week respectively August 31 for their efforts at the NIU Invitational in DeKalb, Ill. Berwanger posted two double-doubles, leading the team in kills in all four matches. The junior averaged 4.29 kills, 3.36 digs and 0.64 service aces per set, hitting .248 over the weekend. Brown recorded her first career double-double, averaging 10.21 assists, 1.50 digs and 0.43 blocks per set in four matches.
