Southern Illinois University
Arkansas State University
Salukis host Arkansas State for home opener at SIU Arena
08/28/2017 | 3:02:00 | Women's Volleyball
First serve is set for 7 p.m. in the 13th meeting all-time between the two programs.
Tickets are available by calling 1-877-SALUKIS or by visiting SIUSalukis.com.
Match Notes
Estrada named to All-Tournament Team
Andrea Estrada finished first on the team in kills and hitting percentage during SIU's three matches at the Miami (Ohio) Tournament en route to earning All-Tournament Team recognition. The redshirt senior from Bogota, Colombia put down 34 kills (3.09/set) and added 32 digs (2.91/set). She now has 1,145 career kills, which is good for 10th on SIU's all-time list. With three kills vs. Arkansas State, Estrada will pass Sonya Locke for ninth all-time, and is 14 away from moving past Heather Herdes for eighth on SIU's all-time list.
Serving up aces
Alayna Martin tallied five service aces against Northern Arizona at the Miami (Ohio) Tournament. It was not only a career-high for the Chesterfield, Mo. native but it also marked the most aces by a Saluki in a match since 2012, when Alysia Mayes recorded five aces at Memphis on Aug. 24, 2012.
Double-Doubles
Andrea Estrada totaled 14 kills and 20 digs in Southern's five-set loss to Northern Arizona- which marked her 46th career double-double. She needs 15 double-doubles to pass former Saluki standout Kristie Kemner (1999-2002) for the most in program history. Meanwhile, Abby Barrow tallied 11 kills and 15 digs against the Lumberjacks to record her first career double-double. The Metamora, Ill. native became the 70th different Saluki to record a double-double since 1981.
All-time series vs. Arkansas State
The Redwolves hold a 9-3 series advantage over the Salukis in a matchup that dates back to 1976. Southern holds a 3-6 record against Arkansas State when designated the home team, with SIU's last win in the series coming back in 2008 under then head coach Brenda Winkeler. That season, the Salukis defeated the Redwolves in four sets en route to winning the 2008 Saluki Invitational. Arkansas State, however, won the most recent meeting between the two squads, sweeping the Salukis, 25-22, 25-23, 25-19 on Sept. 11, 2015.
Scouting the Redwolves
A-State's Carlisa May, Kenzie Fields, and Jessica Uke all earned a spot on the Sun Belt Conference's Preseason All-Conference Team.
May is the reigning Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year and has 810 kills to her name during her career at A-State. May led the league with 445 kills in 2016.
Fields won the league's Freshman of the Year award in 2016 as a redshirt freshman and was second on the team with 288 kills.
Uke hit .365 a season ago with 148 kills and 50 blocks. The .365 hitting percentage was the fifth-best in school history for a single season.
A-State was picked to the win the West Division for the second straight season with 71 points and 11 of the 12 first-place votes.
Thompson makes home debut
Kari Thompson makes her home debut as head coach of the Southern Illinois Salukis against the Arkansas State Redwolves. Saluki head coaches are 2-3 all-time when making their home debut. Here's how the previous five coaches faired:
Debbie Hunter vs. UMSL (9/20/75) L, 1-2
Patti Hagemeyer vs. Georgia (9/8/89) L, 3-1
Sonya Locke vs. Ole Miss (9/6/91) W, 3-0
Brenda Winkeler vs. UMKC (9/9/05) L, 2-3
Justin Ingram vs. Nicholls State (9/7/12) W, 3-0
125 from 1000
Abby Barrow is just 125 kills from becoming the 15th Saluki to record 1,000 for her career.
Milestone Watch
Andrea Estrada is just 34 digs from passing Debbie Barr for 5th on SIU's all-time digs list. The redshirt senior and two-time All-MVC selection sits at 1,080 digs. With 96 career aces, she needs just two to crack the top-15 in school history.
