Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball set to travel to Wichita State and Missouri State
10/13/2010 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 13, 2010
By Dana Ingraham
SIUSalukis.com
MATCH INFORMATION
Date(s): Oct. 15-16
Location(s): Wichita, Kan.; Springfield, Mo.
Site(s): Charles Koch Arena (10,400); Hammons Student Center (8,846)
The Series: SIU trails Wichita State, 18-29; SIU trails Missouri State, 15-34
Head Coaches: Brenda Winkeler (165-152 overall, 83-80 at SIU); Chris Lamb (230-98 overall and at WSU); Melissa Stokes (328-149 overall and at MSU)
Saluki Assistant Coaches: Julie Yankus (Associate Head Coach); Evan Hook (Assistant Coach)
Live Stats: Wichita State match; Missouri State match
Match Notes: click here
DAWG BITES
The Southern Illinois volleyball team is in its 53rd year of existence... Head Coach Brenda Winkeler is in her sixth season with the team and holds an 83-80 (.509) record... Last season the Salukis finished with an 18-12 record and were 7-11 in Missouri Valley Conference play, making their second appearance in the conference tournament in three years... SIU started the 2009 season 11-0, the best start in school history.
SALUKIS' SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
SIU (12-5, 3-4 MVC) is back on the road this weekend, taking on the only two Valley opponents it has yet to face this season. The Salukis will match up against Wichita State Friday, Oct. 15 and Missouri State Saturday, Oct. 16. First serve is set for 7 p.m. both nights.
SCOUTING WSU
The Shockers entered the 2010 season with three returning starters and six returning letterwinners. Wichita State, led by Chris Lamb in his 11th season, recorded a 26-7 overall record last year, finishing 14-4 in the Valley for a second-place finish. WSU went on to advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive year. This season the Shockers are 11-5 and 4-3 in the MVC heading into their meeting with SIU. Camri Zwiesler leads WSU's offense with 4.05 kills per set, while MVC Defensive Player of the Week Sarah Waldorf heads up the defense, averaging 5.37 digs per set. Mary Elizabeth Hoooper adds 10.02 assists per set, and Sarah McGee averages 1.16 blocks per set. As a team, Wichita State is just ahead of Southern Illinois in opponent hitting percentage (.141) and blocks per set (2.61) in the overall Valley standings.
SERIES WITH WSU
SIU trails the all-time series with Wichita State, 18-29. In 2009, the Salukis lost to the Shockers in straight sets twice. WSU has taken the last 14 meetings with Southern, dating back to 2002. Saluki head coach Brenda Winkeler will be looking for her first career victory against Wichita State this weekend.
SCOUTING MSU
The Bears entered the 2010 season with five returning starters and seven returning letterwinners. Missouri State, led by Melissa Stokes in her 15th season, recorded a 21-10 overall record last year, finishing 14-4 in the Valley for a second-place finish. Currently this season, the Bears hold a 14-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the MVC. Christine McCartney leads MSU's offense with 3.09 kills per set, while Abby Padlock heads up the defense posting 4.18 digs per set. Carly Thomas adds 7.43 assists per set, and Calli Norman averages 1.13 blocks per set. Junior right side hitter and MVC Player of the Week Kelley Michnowicz leads the Valley overall in hitting percentage with a .393 clip.
SERIES WITH MSU
SIU trails the alll-time series with Missouri State, 15-34. In 2009, the Salukis split with the Bears, losing in three sets on the road, and coming back to win in five at home. That victory marked the first time that Coach Winkeler had defeated Missouri State at the helm of Saluki volleyball.
STREAK SNAPPED
Southern Illinois' win over Illinois State Saturday night broke a 23-match home losing streak against the Redbirds. SIU had not beaten ILS in Davies Gym since its first match of the 1981 season, when the Salukis won in the same 3-1 fashion.
HALF-CENTURY MARK
Jennifer Berwanger's 23 kills and 17 digs against Illinois State marked the 50th double-double of her career. She has recorded a kills-digs double-double in four out of SIU's last five matches.
PROTECTING THEIR HOUSE
Prior to its back-to-back wins over Indiana State and Illinois State at home last weekend, SIU had not won two consecutive Valley matches in Davies Gym on the same weekend since 2002, when the Salukis swept Creighton and Drake on their home court.
BLUMHORST BACK IN ACTION
Last weekend, libero Lauren Blumhorst returned to the court for the first time since SIU's loss to Iowa Aug. 28, bringing new life to Southern's defense. Against Indiana State, she played in four sets and recorded 19 digs, and against Illinois State she posted a match-high 26 digs.
NCAA RANKINGS
In the most recent NCAA national standings for matches through Oct. 10, the Salukis are ranked 24th in the country in digs per set, averaging 16.93, and 29th in blocks per set, averaging 2.60. SIU also broke the top-100 in assists per set, at 71st with 12.32, kills per set (79th, 13.28) and hitting percentage (82nd, .228). Individually, Jasmine Conner improved to No. 31 in the nation in blocks per set, averaging 1.25, while Rachael Brown is ranked No. 44 in assists per set with 10.63. Jen Berwanger stands at No. 88 in kills per set with 3.61, and Bailey Yeager is 99 in aces per set (0.37).
SALUKI RPI
The Southern Illinois volleyball team improved three spots in RPI to 105th. Seven Valley teams have cracked the top-70, including UNI which is ranked fourth, Missouri State (29th), Creighton (32nd), Wichita State (33rd), Drake (59th), Evansville (67th) and Illinois State (70th). Only two conferences, the Big Ten (11) and the SEC (nine) have more teams in the RPI's top-70 than the Valley.
PICKED SIXTH IN PRESEASON MVC COACHES POLL
SIU was picked to finish sixth in the Valley in the preseason MVC Coaches poll, one spot behind where it was slated to finish a year ago. In 2009, the Salukis finished the regular season in sixth place in the MVC, falling to Wichita State, 3-1, in the opening round of the tournament. Defending champion UNI was unanimously picked to repeat this year, receiving all 10 first-place votes.
