Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball hosts SEMO Tuesday Night
09/10/2012 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
By Robin Thuringer
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.-- The Southern Illinois University volleyball team will return to Davies Gym on Tuesday night to host Southeast Missouri State in their final non-conference match the of season.
Tuesday, Sept. 11 SIU vs. Southeast Missouri State
Location:Carbondale, Ill. Site: Davies Gym, 7 p.m.
TEAM FACTS
Southern Illinois Salukis (8-1)
Head Coach: Justin Ingram, First Season
Southeast Missouri Redhawks (6-4)
Head Coach: Julie Folliard, Second Season (14-9)
RECAPPING LAST WEEK Southern Illinois had another winning weekend as they hosted the 33rd Saluki Invitational. Southern swept Nicholls State, University of Arkansas Little Rock and UT Martin to take the tournament title. Alysia Mayes was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player while Laura Thole and Jessica Whitehead earned all-tournament team accolades. SIU defeated all their opponents this weekend in three sets to be named tournament champions. The win against UT Martin Saturday night marked the eighth consecutive win for Southern who has not lost in 14 sets of play. Southern's last longest winning streak was an eight game win streak during non-conference play in the 2010 season.
VOLLEYBALL RETURNS TO DAVIES GYM The Salukis will return to play at Davies Gym on Tuesday night after hosting the Saluki Invitational at the SIU Arena over the weekend. Southern will welcome the Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State for their final non-conference match of the season. Southern holds an all-time record of 252-194 at Davies Gym. SIU vs. SEMO Southern Illinois leads their all-time series against the Redhawks 19-1. Southeast returned five starters including OVC preseason all-conference selection Emily Coon. Coon is currently second in the team in kills tallying 92 on the season. The junior has also posted impressive numbers defensively with 10 block solos and 33 assists. Junior outside hitter Collen Yarber has recorded a team-high 109 kills. SEMO is coming off a 2-1 weekend with wins against South Florida and Evansville. The Redhawks saw success in their opening weekend when they topped volleyball powerhouse Iowa in five sets to win the Hawkeye Challenge. This was the Redhawks first win over a Big Ten opponent in 10 years.
FAMILIAR FACE Former Southern Illinois assistant coach Julie Folliard is in her second season as head coach for the Redhawks. Folliard (formerly Yankus) was with the Salukis from 2006 to 2010 where she mentored four-time All-Missouri Valley Conference player Jennifer Berwanger. Folliard compiled a 14-9 overall record and an 11-9 record in the Ohio Valley Conference leading her team to a fourth place finish in the OVC tournament in her first season as head coach.
MVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK Senior middle blocker Alysia Mayes was named the MVC's Player of the Week for her performance at the Saluki Invitational. Mayes knocked in 43 kills for an average of 4.78 kills per set. She posted an impressive hitting clip of .521 to now lead the Valley in hitting percentage. The Ashkum, Ill. native also recorded three service aces to top the MVC charts with .50 service aces per set. Mayes was stellar defensively for the Salukis as she tallied 10 digs and 18 total blocks to average two blocks per set during the weekend match-ups.
SALUKIS TOP THE CHARTS Southern Illinois tops five of seven categories in the Missouri Valley Conference team statistics. The Salukis hold the top spot in hitting percentage, opponent hitting percentage, assists, kills, and service aces. Individually, senior Alysia Mayes leads the Valley in hitting percentage (.479) and service aces (15) and takes the second spot in kills and blocks. Defensive specialist Bailey Yeager leads the league in digs with 5.07 per set. Laura Thole leads in kills (118) and transfer setter Amy Drabant nabs the top spot in assists (285).
EARLY SEASON SUCCESS Southern Illinois has dominated in its early-season non-conference tournaments the last five seasons. The Salukis have gone 47-8 in early-season tournaments since 2007 and have carried an overall 52-10 record against non-conference
