Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Valparaiso
Tournament champion Volleyball shuts down Saint Louis, Valparaiso
09/01/2012 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 1, 2012
By Robin Thuringer
SIUSalukis.com
ST. LOUIS-- The Southern Illinois volleyball team is the 2012 Active Ankle Challenge champions after defeating South Alabama, Saint Louis, and Valparaiso in the weekend tournament.
The Salukis (5-1) beat South Alabama (2-3) and Saint Louis (1-4) in two sets and swept Valparaiso (3-4) to close out the weekend and take the tournament title.
Alysia Mayes was named the tournament MVP while Bailey Yeager and Laura Thole were all-tournament selections.
Southern Illinois 3, Saint Louis 1
The Salukis opened Saturday play at the Active Ankle Challenge taking on host Saint Louis University.
SIU continued their momentum from Friday night where they claimed a four set win against South Alabama. The Salukis continued the trend beating the Billikens in four sets (25-22, 21-25, 25-12, 25-14).
"We knew Saint Louis would be a tough, well coached team and they would come in with a fight," said SIU head coach Justin Ingram. "They had home court advantage and really tried to test us."
Southern and SLU went back and forth in the first two sets each coming away with a win. SIU gained a 17-13 lead in the first set and was able to hold off the Billikens to grind out a win.
The second set saw 11 ties throughout the course of the set with Southern coming within one (21-20). Saint Louis pulled away with a 3-0 run to close out the set.
The Salukis jumped out early in the third set, never relenting after an opening 5-0 run. Saint Louis tried to play catch up but only came within five points of Southern. SIU closed out the set with a 13-point win.
SIU held control during the fourth set shutting down Saint Louis 25-14.
"We started to get points in bunches and do that consistently and that worked in our favor."
Several Salukis were strong at the net. Laura Thole led the attack with 14 kills while Alysia Mayes and Jessica Whitehead each chipped in 12 a piece. Taylor Pippen also contributed 10 kills in the match.
Freshman Mary Bogdanski and Senior Bailey Yeager had 11 digs each to hold down the SIU backcourt.
"We had a lot of great fans that came out and gave us support and confidence and we were able to build off that momentum."
Southern Illinois 3, Valparaiso 0
The Salukis came out swinging in the final game of the Active Ankle Challenge. SIU closed out the weekend with a convincing sweep of Valparaiso (25-14, 25-13, 25-15).
"This was a great team effort," said SIU head coach Justin Ingram. "We gave them constant serving pressure and no one gave them a break."
Southern dominated the match outhitting Valpo .402 to .128. Southern tallied 41 kills in the match.
Tournament MVP Alysia Mayes knocked in 11 kills posting a team high hitting efficiency of .556. Fellow senior Laura Thole also contributed 11 kills with a .364 hitting clip. The team compiled 38 digs with 13 of those coming from senior Bailey Yeager.
"We were able to regain the ball often and then convert off the dig which set us up to get those points and maintain our lead," said Ingram.
The Salukis only allowed three lead changes in the course of the match to win the sets by an 11, 12, and 10-point margin never allowing the Crusaders to be a threat.
"The team really came out to play this weekend and I couldn't be more happy with their composure and performance this weekend."
Southern will be back in action next weekend for their home opener as they host the Saluki Invitational at the SIU Arena on Sept. 7 and 8.
