Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Volleyball notebook from Memphis Invitational
09/13/2013 | 12:00:00 | DawgTracker
Aug 26, 2012
By Robin Thuringer
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, IL - Saluki Volleyball began its 54th season this weekend at the Memphis Invitational under the direction of first-year head coach Justin Ingram.
Southern fell in its first match to Eastern Michigan, 3-1, but bounced back by sweeping Memphis and Austin Peay to begin the season with a 2-1 record.
Here are some highlights from the weekend:
-SIU continued to dominate its early-season non-conference tournaments as they have in the last five seasons. The Salukis are now 41-8 in early-season tournaments since 2007 and have carried an overall 46-10 record against non-conference opponents in that span.
-Senior middle blocker Alysia Mayes was named to the All-Tournament team this weekend. Mayes compiled 33 kills and led the team in hitting percentage, posting an impressive mark of .491. Mayes played in all 106 sets in 2011 leading the team in hitting percentage as well as entering the record books in career solo blocks.
-Senior Bailey Yeager moved up in the SIU history books for digs this weekend. Yeager now ranks sixth all-time with 473 career digs, passing Saluki alum and current Marion High School head volleyball coach Lauren Blumhorst.
-Junior outside hitter Jessica Whitehead led the SIU attack with 39 kills, senior Laura Thole followed behind with 37 kills.
-Sophomore transfer Amy Drabant made a great first impression this weekend in her Saluki debut. The defensive specialist contributed 119 assists and 27 digs.
-The Saluki freshmen all saw playing time this weekend. Taylor Pippen showed power in the middle, chipping in 25 kills and assisting on nine blocks. Defensive specialist Mary Bogdanski started in five sets and tallied 15 digs.
-Southern did not allow Austin Peay to hold a lead in the final two sets of the match, winning the first two sets by a margin of 11 and nine points.
-With the sweep of Memphis, SIU snapped a 13-game losing streak that was compiled at the end of the 2011 season.
-The Salukis will continue their non-conference play when they travel to Saint Louis University next weekend to compete in the Billiken Invitational.
