Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball opens the 2009 season at Northern Illinois Tournament
08/27/2009 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 27, 2009
www.SIUSalukis.com
MATCH INFORMATION
Date(s): August 28-29
Location: DeKalb, Ill.
Site(s): Victor E. Court (800)
The Series: Stephen F. Austin (first meeting); SIU leads NIU, 9-8; SIU leads UIC, 13-6; SIU leads WIU, 24-7
Head Coaches: Brenda Winkeler (135-135 overall, 53-63 at SIU); Debbie Humphreys (484-217 overall and at SFA); Ray Gooden (115-105 overall and at NIU); Katie Schumacher-Cawley (0-0 overall and at UIC); Kym McKay (78-132 overall and at WIU)
Saluki Assistant Coaches: Julie Yankus (Associate Head Coach); Katie Carrier; Jimmy White (Student Assistant)
Gametracker: select matches at www.niuhuskies.com
Match Notes: Click Here
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 53-63 (.457) 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 2008 season 9-1, the best start in program history.
ON THE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
The Salukis travel to Northern Illinois for the NIU Invitational. The Salukis open the season with Stephen F. Austin, followed by host NIU Friday, August 28. Saturday SIU faces Illinois-Chicago and Western Illinois.
SCOUTING STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
The Ladyjacks enter the 2009 season with three returning starters and nine returning letterwinners. Stephen F. Austin, led by Debbie Humphreys in her 22nd season, recorded a 20-9 record overall, finishing second in the East Division of the Southland Conference with an 11-5 record. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The Huskies enter the 2009 season with five returning starters, plus their libero, and nine returning letterwinners. NIU, led by Ray Gooden in his eighth season, recorded a 18-14 record overall, finishing third in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference with a 9-7 record. The Salukis lead the series between the programs just 9-8. This will be the 18th meeting, the last meeting in 1990.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
The Flames enter the 2009 season with three returning starters and seven returning letterwinners. UIC, led by Katie Schumacher-Cawley in her first season. Last year's team recorded a 14-18 record overall, finishing seventh in the Horizon League with a 5-11 record. The Salukis lead the series between the two programs, 13-6. This will be the 20th meeting between the teams, the last meeting in 1994.
SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS
The Fighting Leathernecks enter the 2009 season with five returning starters, plus the libero, and 10 returning letterwinners. WIU, led by Kym McKay in her eighth season, recorded a 9-22 record overall, finishing tied for seventh in the East Division of the Summit League with a 5-11 record. The Salukis lead the series between the two programs, 24-7. Last season, SIU beat the Leathernecks 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 25-20) in Davies Gym.
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.
2008 TEAM BEST START IN SCHOOL HISTORY
The Salukis swept Indiana State on Friday, Sept. 19. 2008 improving the start of the 2008 squad's record to 9-1. This marks the best start to a season in school history. The last time the Salukis saw such a successful start to the season was in 1978, when SIU began the season 9-1-3.
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
ROBERSON PEPPERS THE BOOKS
Senior Chandra Roberson has made an impact in the record books after three full seasons at SIU. The middle blocker sits fourth in career block assists with 298, just 35 away from holding the all-time record at SIU. She also is tied for ninth in solo blocks in a career with 71, and ninth in career hitting percentage at .268 in 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.
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).
SALUKIS FILL THE VOID
The 2009 Southern Illinois volleyball team will look to fill the void left by two mainstays in the lineup from a year ago. The Salukis lost four-year libero Kristy Elswick and two-year starting setter Brooklyn Robbins. Elswick is the all-time leader in digs at SIU and Robbins was a second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference pick a year ago.
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).
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, and defensive specialist Keana Richardson (Evanston, Ill.) will make an impact on the defense.
