Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Mayes, Yeager named Honorable Mention MVC Scholar-Athletes
11/22/2011 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 22, 2011
By Bill Ford
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Missouri Valley Conference announced Tuesday Southern Illinois volleyball players Alysia Mayes and Bailey Yeager have been named Honorable Mention MVC Scholar-Athletes.
This is the first time either player has been named an MVC Scholar-Athlete. Both players started every match and played in all 106 sets for the Salukis in 2011.
A junior middle blocker, Mayes finished the 2011 season third on the team with 277 kills for an average of 2.61 per set on a team-best .326 hitting percentage. The Ashkum, Ill., native also led Southern with 91 total blocks for an average of 0.86 per set. Her 31 solo blocks in 2011 helped her improve to 75 for her career, which ranks 10th all-time in SIU history.
Mayes earned All-Tournament honors at the AllState Sugar Bowl Collegiate Classic early in the season and posted career highs in single-game kills, hitting percentage and total blocks throughout the year. At one point in the season, Mayes ranked as high as 22nd nationally in hitting percentage.
An exercise science major, Mayes holds a cumulative GPA of 3.733. She earned the MVC President's Academic Award in 2010 and was named to the MVC Honor Roll in 2009.
A junior defensive specialist, Yeager wore SIU's libero jersey for a majority of the season and led the Salukis with 421 digs for an average of 3.97 per set. Her 421 digs put her 10th in SIU history for digs in a season.
The Brownsburg, Ind., native earned All-Tournament honors at the Mississippi State Maroon Classic. She tallied a career-best single-match total of 27 digs twice during the season.
A communication disorders major, Yeager carries a cumulative GPA of 3.879. She also earned the MVC President's Academic Award in 2010 and was named to the MVC Honor Roll in 2009.
