Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Memphis
Memphis sweeps Volleyball in Saluki Invite title match
09/10/2011 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 10, 2011
By Bill Ford
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, ILL. -- The Southern Illinois volleyball team ended the first Saluki Invitational at SIU Arena on a sour note, suffering a sweep to Memphis in the championship match Saturday night.
The Tigers (8-2) eked out a close first set 25-23 before controlling the final two sets 25-14 and 25-19 to secure the 32nd Saluki Invitational title. SIU fell to 5-3 with the loss for its second tournament runner-up finish of the season.
Memphis outside hitter Marija Jovanovic was named the tournament MVP while the Tigers' setter Hajnika Molnar was also named to the All-Tournament Team along with SIU juniors Laura Thole and Rachael Brown, Green Bay's Abbey Gitter and Murray State's Teresa Krog.
Saluki head coach Brenda Winkeler said the Salukis came out sluggish against the Tigers after having needed five sets to defeat Green Bay earlier in the day.
"We had some definite problems today with passing, which led to a struggle on offense the first two sets," Winkeler said. "We looked kind of tired from that long match earlier today."
The Salukis had the upper hand on the Tigers early in the match, leading by as much as 14-10 in the opening set before Memphis began its rally. The Tigers closed the opening set on a 6-1 run led by three strong kills by outside hitter Altrese Hawkins.
Winkeler credited Hawkins and fellow outside hitter, Jovanovic, with dismantling the Salukis defense throughout the remainder of the match. Hawkins finished the match with 15 kills and a .321 hitting percentage while Jovanovic had 14 kills on a .393 clip.
"Altrese Hawkins is a very good player. With Jovanovic, we were successful digging her early," Winkeler said. "But we got a little undisciplined defensively and basically those two with a little help from Maja Kostic were able to control the match."
Laura Thole finished the match with eight kills, earning her third All-Tournament nod of the early season.
"I think you can see just by watching a match that she is our most consistent player," Saluki setter Rachael Brown said of Thole. "She gets a lot of balls because she can keep the ball on the court. She can move around and hit different shots, block and pass. She's the go-to hitter right now."
Junior middle blocker Alysia Mayes also had eight kills for SIU while Alexis Braghini finished with six kills and a .750 hitting percentage.
Southern opens up conference play on the road Friday against defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Northern Iowa.
Green Bay 3, Murray State 0
Green Bay (3-7) took home third place in the tournament with a 25-20, 25-14, 25-23 sweep of Murray State (0-11) Saturday evening at SIU Arena.
Carmen Leitermann posted 11 kills to lead the Phoenix while Abbey Gitter added 10 kills and Leah Poel finished with a double-double of 40 assists and 10 digs.
Cassy Woolverton led the Racers with 13 kills while Molly Goodrich had 16 assists and Kayleah Sauer had 11 digs.
