Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball comes home to host Indiana State and Illinois State
10/06/2010 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 6, 2010
By Dana Ingraham
SIUSalukis.com
MATCH INFORMATION
Date(s): Oct. 8-9
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Site: Davies Gym (1,250)
The Series: SIU leads Indiana State, 39-15-1; SIU trails Illinois State, 6-61-1
Head Coaches: Brenda Winkeler (163-152 overall, 81-80 at SIU); Traci Dahl (23-58 overall and at INS); Melissa Myers (201-97 overall, 40-38 at ILS)
Saluki Assistant Coaches: Julie Yankus (Associate Head Coach); Evan Hook (Assistant Coach)
Live Stats: click here
Video Stream: click here
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 81-80 (.503) 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 COME HOME FOR BIG VALLEY WEEKEND
SIU (10-5, 1-4 MVC) will return home to Davies Gym this weekend for the first time in two weeks, hosting Indiana State Friday, Oct. 8 and Illinois State Saturday, Oct. 9. First serve is set for 7 p.m. both nights.
SCOUTING INS
The Sycamores entered the 2010 season with just one returning starter plus their libero, and nine returning letterwinners. Indiana State, led by Traci Dahl in her third season, recorded a 7-25 overall record last year, finishing 3-15 in the Valley for a ninth-place finish. This season the Sycamores are 8-10 and 0-5 in the MVC heading into their meeting with SIU. Morgan Dall leads the INS offense and the Valley overall with 4.23 kills per set, while Kiya James heads up the defense, averaging 4.58 digs per set. Loni Mackinson adds 7.58 assists per set, and Auriel Armstrong averages 0.80 blocks per set.
SERIES WITH INS
SIU leads the alll-time series with Indiana State, 39-15-1. In 2009, the Salukis took both contests against the Sycamores, winning at home 3-1 and on the road 3-0.
SCOUTING ILS
The Redbirds entered the 2010 season with five returning starters and 11 returning letterwinners. Illinois State, led by Melissa Myers in her third season, recorded a 12-17 overall record last year, finishing 7-11 in the Valley for a seventh-place finish. Currently this season, the Redbirds hold a 12-6 overall record and a 2-3 mark in the MVC. Mallory Leggett leads the ILS offense with 3.57 kills per set, while Jenny Menendez heads up the defense posting 4.44 digs per set. Kristin Stauter sits atop the Valley rankings, adding 10.54 assists per set, and Tabitha Visk averages 0.89 blocks per set. Visk is second overall in the Valley with a .355 hitting percentage.
SERIES WITH ILS
SIU trails the alll-time series with Illinois State, 6-61-1. In 2009, the Salukis split with the Redbirds, losing at home, 3-1, and sweeping Illinois State on the road. That victory marked the first time that SIU had defeated ILS since its 2002 upset in the MVC tournament, and the first regular season victory for SIU against Illinois State since 1990.
IT'S BEEN AWHILE
Southern Illinois has not defeated Illinois State in its own Davies Gym since its first match of the 1981 season, when SIU won in four sets. The Redbirds have handed Southern 23-straight losses on its home floor.
DEFENSE IS KEY
SIU has been a force to be reckoned with at the net this season. The Salukis are second in the Valley in opponent hitting percentage, holding opposing teams to .141, as well as second in blocks, averaging 2.60 blocks per set. Jasmine Conner leads the blocking charge, sitting in third in the MVC rankings with 1.24 per set.
BERWANGER (STILL) BIG IN THE BOOKS
Jennifer Berwanger's 23 kills last weekend lifted her into fifth place outright in the SIU record books for career kills (1,186). Berwanger has also cracked the top-five in career attempts (fourth, 3.468) and career digs (second, 1,410).
FRESH FACE ON THE OUTSIDE
Freshman Jessica Whitehead has successfully transitioned from the middle to the outside hitter position, putting together huge performances in SIU's first conference victory over Bradley as well as a loss to Northern Iowa. Whitehead hit an impressive .529 against Bradley, delivering nine kills without an error in 17 attempts. Against UNI, she matched the total number of kills she had all season entering into the weekend in one match, setting a new career-high with 11.
NCAA RANKINGS
In the most recent NCAA national standings for matches through Oct. 3, the Salukis are ranked 28th in the country in blocks per set, averaging 2.60, and 66th in aces per set with 1.50. SIU also broke the top-100 in digs per set, at 68th with 16.0, hitting percentage (87th, .227), and assists per set (98th, 12.02). Individually, Jasmine Conner is No. 43 in the nation in blocks per set, averaging 1.24, while Bailey Yeager stands at No. 44 in aces per set, averaging 0.44. Rachael Brown is ranked No. 63 in assists per set with 10.33.
SALUKI RPI
The Southern Illinois volleyball team currently has the 108th-best RPI in the country. Seven Valley teams have cracked the top-100, including UNI which is ranked fourth, Missouri State (26th), Wichita State (32nd), Drake (46th), Creighton (55th), Illinois State (64th) and Evansville (78th).
GETTING IT DONE IN THREE
All but two of SIU's 15 matches this year have been decided in three sets. Nine of the Salukis' 10 wins have been 3-0 shutouts.
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.
