Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Volleyball announces 2017 schedule
06/30/2017 | 12:01:00 | Women's Volleyball
The Salukis will face nine top-100 RPI teams from 2016, including five that reached the NCAA Tournament
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois volleyball team has announced its schedule for the 2017 campaign, head coach Kari Thompson's inaugural season at the helm of the Salukis.
SIU returns nine letterwinners, including its three best attackers, from a squad that won 20-plus matches for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
The Salukis will play nine matches during the 2017 season against Top-100 Rating Percentage Index (RPI) teams from a year ago, including five that advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
The Salukis open the 2017 regular season with five-straight matches against top-100 RPI opponents, beginning at the Miami-Ohio Tournament on Aug. 25-26. Southern will open the three-match tournament against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, who won both the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles with a 30-3 record, advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
SIU will then take on its second-straight Top-100 RPI opponent in Northern Arizona and will conclude play in Oxford, Ohio against Miami (Ohio) on Aug. 26. The Redhawks went 24-7 last year and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Southern will play its home opener at the SIU Arena on Aug. 27 against Arkansas State. The Red Wolves finished the 2016 season ranked No. 55 in RPI.
SIU then travels to Murray, Ky. for its third match against a 2016 NCAA Tournament participant in Murray State. The Racers won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship last season before falling to UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Salukis swept the Racers, 3-0 at Davies Gym a year ago.
Southern will then hit the road to take part in Western Michigan's tournament. The two-day tournament will pair the Salukis against Oakland University (Sept. 8) and Western Michigan (Sept. 9).
The Salukis return to Carbondale on Sept. 12 to host regional rival SEMO at the SIU Arena before traveling to the Notre Dame Shamrock Invitational on Sept. 15-16. Two of the three teams that SIU will face in South Bend, Ind. finished with a Top-100 RPI, including NCAA Tournament participant Michigan State. The Salukis will open the three-match tournament against Central Michigan (Sept. 15), before taking on Notre Dame (Sept. 16) and the Spartans of Michigan State (Sept. 16).
The Salukis will open an 18-match Missouri Valley Conference slate on Friday, Sept. 22 at Bradley before traveling to Normal, Ill. to face the Illinois State Redbirds on Saturday, Sept. 23.
Southern's home conference opener is set for Sept. 25 against Valparaiso, which will be the first of four-straight home matches for the Salukis. SIU will then host Evansville on Friday, Sept. 29, followed by Indiana State on Saturday, Sept. 30. Southern will close out the homestand by welcoming the defending MVC Champions, the Missouri State Lady Bears, to Davies Gym on Sat., Oct. 7.
The Salukis will wrap up conference play at Valpo on Saturday, Nov. 18. The MVC Tournament, which will be hosted by Illinois State, is set for Nov. 23-25.
Season tickets, as well as single-match tickets, can be purchased online or by calling 877-SALUKIS.
SIU returns nine letterwinners, including its three best attackers, from a squad that won 20-plus matches for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
The Salukis will play nine matches during the 2017 season against Top-100 Rating Percentage Index (RPI) teams from a year ago, including five that advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
The Salukis open the 2017 regular season with five-straight matches against top-100 RPI opponents, beginning at the Miami-Ohio Tournament on Aug. 25-26. Southern will open the three-match tournament against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, who won both the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles with a 30-3 record, advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
SIU will then take on its second-straight Top-100 RPI opponent in Northern Arizona and will conclude play in Oxford, Ohio against Miami (Ohio) on Aug. 26. The Redhawks went 24-7 last year and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Southern will play its home opener at the SIU Arena on Aug. 27 against Arkansas State. The Red Wolves finished the 2016 season ranked No. 55 in RPI.
SIU then travels to Murray, Ky. for its third match against a 2016 NCAA Tournament participant in Murray State. The Racers won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship last season before falling to UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Salukis swept the Racers, 3-0 at Davies Gym a year ago.
Southern will then hit the road to take part in Western Michigan's tournament. The two-day tournament will pair the Salukis against Oakland University (Sept. 8) and Western Michigan (Sept. 9).
The Salukis return to Carbondale on Sept. 12 to host regional rival SEMO at the SIU Arena before traveling to the Notre Dame Shamrock Invitational on Sept. 15-16. Two of the three teams that SIU will face in South Bend, Ind. finished with a Top-100 RPI, including NCAA Tournament participant Michigan State. The Salukis will open the three-match tournament against Central Michigan (Sept. 15), before taking on Notre Dame (Sept. 16) and the Spartans of Michigan State (Sept. 16).
The Salukis will open an 18-match Missouri Valley Conference slate on Friday, Sept. 22 at Bradley before traveling to Normal, Ill. to face the Illinois State Redbirds on Saturday, Sept. 23.
Southern's home conference opener is set for Sept. 25 against Valparaiso, which will be the first of four-straight home matches for the Salukis. SIU will then host Evansville on Friday, Sept. 29, followed by Indiana State on Saturday, Sept. 30. Southern will close out the homestand by welcoming the defending MVC Champions, the Missouri State Lady Bears, to Davies Gym on Sat., Oct. 7.
The Salukis will wrap up conference play at Valpo on Saturday, Nov. 18. The MVC Tournament, which will be hosted by Illinois State, is set for Nov. 23-25.
Season tickets, as well as single-match tickets, can be purchased online or by calling 877-SALUKIS.
Saluki Radio Baseball Broadcast - MVC Tournament vs #1 UIC (Audio Only Broadcast)
Thursday, May 21
Saluki Radio Baseball Broadcast - MVC Tournament vs #5 UE (Audio Only)
Thursday, May 21
5.19.26 | Saluki Baseball Weekend Preview - MVC Tournament
Tuesday, May 19
5.13.26 | Saluki Baseball Weekend Preview - Valpo
Wednesday, May 13