Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Western Illinois
Volleyball wins NIU Invite championship
08/29/2009 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 29, 2009
By Shalae Patrick
www.SIUSalukis.com
Illinois-Chicago Box Score
Western Illinois Box Score
DEKALB, Ill. - The Southern Illinois women's volleyball team swept the field at the NIU Comfort Inn/Suites of Rochelle Invitational, winning the tournament championship. The Salukis wrapped up the weekend with wins over Illinois-Chicago (3-0) and Western Illinois (3-1) Saturday, starting the season a perfect 4-0.
Junior outside hitters Jennifer Berwanger and Sydney Clark, along with freshman setter Rachael Brown earned all-tournament team honors for their efforts.
Berwanger recorded two double-doubles on the weekend, averaging 4.29 kills and 3.36 digs per set, hitting .248. Clark hit .250, averaging 3.21 kills and 0.93 blocks per set and Brown recorded a double-double, putting up 10.21 assists, 1.5 digs and 0.79 assists per set.
The Salukis swept the Flames 25-19, 25-22, 25-22 in the first match of the day, led by 11 kills and five digs from Berwanger. Clark added eight kills, while Chandra Roberson and Kelsie Laughlin pitched in seven each.
"I thought we showed a lot of guts on defense to get the win," Saluki head coach Brenda Winkeler said. "We're still working on offense right now, but I thought our middles have really come through and we blocked well in the match."
The team combined for 9.0 total team blocks including two solo and five block assists from Roberson and Laughlin.
Brown posted her first-career double-double with 30 assists and 10 digs.
The Salukis dug themselves in a hole in the final match of the tournament, losing the first set, before taking the next three to down Western Illinois in four, 18-25, 27-25, 25-21, 29-27.
"We really showed the ability to play from behind," Winkeler said of the afternoon match. "(WIU) played extremely well. They had great ball control and a fast-paced offense with lots of tips and rolls. It wasn't our best match of the weekend, but we had some players step up." Berwanger again led the way, with her second double-double of the tournament with a match-high 18 kills and 17 digs. Clark added 16 kills and two block assists. Brown chipped in a career-best 46 assists.
Alysia Mayes came off the bench for 10 kills in 15 attempts with just one attack error.
"Alysia is the story of this match," Winkeler said. "She posted 10 kills in her freshman debut and helped get the win. Some of her kills were unbelievable."
The Salukis had to scrap and dive until the very end, putting three players in double-digit digs.
"In the end, it showed that we were physically in the best shape of any team there," Winkeler said.
Roberson recorded one solo and three block assists, while Lauren Blumhorst and Laughlin had 17 and 10 digs respectively.
The Salukis return to action Sept. 4-5 at the Stetson Holiday Inn Invitational in Deland, Fla.
