Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball announces 2011 schedule
06/07/2011 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
June 7, 2011
By Bill Ford
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois volleyball team announced it's 2011 schedule Tuesday, which contains 28 matches with three early season tournaments and a full Missouri Valley Conference slate.
Southern starts the year at the Mississippi State Tournament Aug. 26-27 in Starkville, Miss., with matches against Southeastern Louisiana, UT Martin and the host Bulldogs.
The Salukis next travel to New Orleans to compete in the Tulane Tournament Sept. 2-3 where Southern will face William & Mary, San Diego State and the host Green Wave.
SIU will host the 32nd Saluki Invitational Sept. 9-10 with what will be the first volleyball matches ever played in the renovated SIU Arena. Southern will face Murray State, Green Bay and Memphis in the tournament.
"We have a strong non-conference schedule with three of the teams -- San Diego State, Memphis, and Tulane -- finishing in the top 150 in RPI last year," said SIU head coach Brenda Winkeler. "We are also really excited to be playing in the renovated arena for the first time. It will be a great volleyball atmosphere that we can enjoy with the new scoreboard with all of the graphics."
The Salukis open conference play on the road Sept. 16-17 at defending MVC champion Northern Iowa and Bradley. SIU then returns home for its Valley home opening weekend Sept. 23-24 against Drake and Creighton at Davies Gym.
Southern plays its last non-conference match Sept. 27 against SIU Edwardsville in Carbondale before finishing off a four-match homestand Sept. 30 against Evansville.
SIU hits the road again to take on Indiana State and Illinois State Oct. 7-8 before returning home to finish off the first half of Valley play against Missouri State and Wichita State Oct. 14-15.
The Salukis make the return trip to Creighton and Drake Oct. 21-22 before finishing a three-match road swing at Evansville Oct. 28. Back in Carbondale, Southern faces Illinois State and Indiana State Nov. 4-5.
SIU finishes it's regular season road slate Nov. 11-12 at Wichita State and Missouri State before closing the regular season at home Nov. 18-19 against Bradley and Northern Iowa.
The Salukis hope to make a return trip to Cedar Falls, Iowa, the following weekend as the Panthers will host the 2011 State Farm MVC Volleyball Tournament Nov. 24-26 at the McCleod Center. SIU is looking to make it back to the MVC Tournament after barely missing the six-team cut in 2010.
