Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball hosts Illinois State Friday, Indiana State Saturday
11/02/2011 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 2, 2011
By Bill Ford
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois volleyball team looks to end a six-match losing streak and keep its postseason hopes alive as the Salukis welcome Illinois State and Indiana State to Davies Gym Friday and Saturday.
Friday, Nov. 4
SIU vs. Illinois State, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 5
SIU vs. Indiana State, 7 p.m.
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Site: Davies Gym
Match Notes
Live Stats
Live Video (pay)
TEAM FACTS
Southern Illinois Salukis (9-12, 3-9 MVC)
Head Coach: Brenda Winkeler, Seventh Year (176-173 overall, 94-101 at SIU)
Illinois State Redbirds (15-10, 7-6 MVC)
Head Coach: Melissa Myers, Third Year (208-95 overall, 62-56 at ILST)
Indiana State Sycamores (11-13, 3-10 MVC)
Head Coach: Traci Dahl, Fourth Year (37-81 overall and at INST)
SIU VS. ILLINOIS STATE
SIU trails its all-time series with Illinois State 36-16, including a four-set loss October 8 in Normal, Ill. ISU held a 12-match winning streak in the series between 2003 and 2008, until Southern broke through with a win at Redbird Arena in 2009. The two teams have split the series the past two seasons. The Redbirds are led by one of the Valley's top attackers in sophomore outside hitter Shannon McGlaughlin, who averages 3.54 kills per set. Sophomore LeighAnn Hrnaka compliments McGlaughlin with an average of 3.08 kills per set while senior setter Kristin Stauter directs the Redbirds offense to the tune of 9.44 assists per set. Junior defensive specialist Jenny Menendez anchors the defensive back line with an average of 4.40 digs per set while four other ISU players average two or more digs per set. The Redbirds average 2.27 team blocks per set.
SIU VS. INDIANA STATE
Southern leads the all-time series with the Sycamores 41-16-1, including a four-set win Oct. 7 in Terre Haute, Ind. Indiana State broke an 11-match Saluki win streak in the series last November when the Sycamores topped SIU in five sets in Terre Haute. ISU enters the weekend on a high after topping Drake at home Saturday to snap a four-match losing streak. The Sycamores are led by the Valley's top attacker in junior outside hitter Morgan Dall, who averages 4.47 kills per set. Dall returned to the ISU lineup last weekend after missing seven matches. Behind Dall, sophomore outside hitter Monique Morris averages 2.73 kills per set and senior middle blocker Stacy Qualizza averages 2.52 kills per set. The Sycamores use two setters in senior Shelbi Fouty (7.51 assists/set) and sophomore Loni Mackinson (3.61 assist/set). Seniro libero Kiya James leads the defense with an average of 4.55 digs per set while Morris averages 3.10 digs per set.
LEADING THE SALUKIS
The Saluki offense is led by a trio of attackers that all average more than two kills per set. Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Whitehead ranks third in the MVC with a season average of 3.41 kills per set while junior outside Laura Thole is sixth in the league at 3.20 kills per set. Junior middle blocker Alysia Mayes rounds out Southern's top attackers with an average of 2.71 kills per set with a .368 hitting percentage that leads the MVC and ranks 29th nationally. Junior setter Rachael Brown ranks third in the Valley with an average of 9.99 assists per set. The Salukis have three players averaging three or more digs per set, led by junior libero Bailey Yeager's 3.86 per set, which ranks eighth in the MVC. Thole is second on the team with an average of 3.00 digs per set and Brown is third at 2.91.
RECAPPING LAST WEEK
Southern's offense struggled in a three-set loss at Evansville last Friday as the team's losing streak hit six matches. The Salukis hit for their second-lowest percentage of the season at .047 while giving up a .352 hitting clip to the Purple Aces. Jessica Whitehead led SIU with 11 kills while Laura Thole managed eight kills and eight digs playing with a splint on her hand. Rachael Brown had 27 assists for Southern and Bailey Yeager led the defense with nine digs.
