Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
11-5, 2-0MVC
Drake University
10-6, 1-1MVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake | 16 | 29 | 17 | 21 | 1 |
| Southern Illinois | 25 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Balanced Attack Powers SIU Volleyball Past Drake, 3-1
09/24/2016 | 11:37:00 | Women's Volleyball
Salukis improve to 2-0 in MVC play for first time since 2012.
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Four Salukis recorded double-digit kills as the Southern Illinois University volleyball team defeated the Drake Bulldogs in four sets, 25-16, 27-29, 25-17, 25-21 Saturday night at Davies Gymnasium.
SIU improves to 11-5 overall and moves to 2-0 in MVC play for the first time since the 2012 season. The Salukis have now won nine-straight over Drake (10-6, 1-1 MVC), with SIU unbeaten against the Bulldogs under head coach Justin Ingram.
"Starting conference is a brand new season for us," Ingram said. "We think of the season in three segments- preseason, conference season and postseason. This is a great start for our conference season. Starting well doesn't always mean finishing well, but starting well really gets us on the right track and gives us momentum going forward."
Abby Barrow tallied 12 kills and a pair of block assists to lead the SIU attack. Meg Viggars, Alex Rosignol and Ginger Perinar each added 10 kills apiece.
"I had some more confidence from last night so I was a little more aggressive tonight," Barrow said.
Barrow posted double-digit kills for the second time in as many matches, as she tied a career-high with 21 kills in Friday's win over Northern Iowa. It marks the seventh time this season the Metamora, Ill. native has finished with double-digit kills.
"Abby had a good weekend in general," Ingram said. "There are still some things with her attack she's working on, but we needed her kills to help propel us tonight."
Perinar's 10 kills, a new career-best, were all the more impressive given she entered the match in the third set. The Channahon, Ill., native provided a necessary spark off the bench for the Salukis, who had just lost a hard-fought second set, 29-27.
"Its always exciting when you hear a coach say be ready or stay warm," Perinar said. "I knew I needed to put balls down for my team and get the team excited to put (Drake) away in four sets instead of going five."
Perinar made the most of her opportunity, as she put down her first three swings in the third frame. Her fourth kill of the set gave SIU a commanding 17-10 lead that they never relinquished. She followed with six kills on 14 swings in set four, including four-straight kills to open the set.
"I thought Ginger did a great job," Ingram said. "Three of her errors were late in the fourth set, but I think she had a great game for us regardless."
Kolby Meeks and Nellie Fredriksson each added nine kills, with Meeks hitting at a .412 clip. Hannah Kaminsky tallied 30 assists and 14 digs for her 28th career double-double, while Ashley Edelen set a career-high with 16 digs.
"For us to have this win is huge," Fredriksson said. "Being 2-0 in MVC play is huge for us."
The Salukis will now shift their attention to Missouri State, who defeated SIU twice in Springfield a year ago.
"We have our work cut out for us," Ingram said. "We have to get some rest, we are fatiguing a bit after this weekend. It'll be a challenge for us, but every team in the Valley is doing it. It's the cards that we have been dealt, so we need to go on Monday and play a really good Missouri State team."
First serve in Springfield, Mo. between SIU and Missouri State is set for 7 p.m. CT Monday, Sept. 26. The Salukis are seeking the program's first 3-0 start in Valley play since 1995.
