Saluki Volleyball travels to South Bend for Notre Dame Invitational

Friday, September 15

South Bend, Ind.

4:30 p.m. EST

Southern Illinois University

Central Michigan University

Photo by: Madison Case

Saluki Volleyball travels to South Bend for Notre Dame Invitational

09/14/2017 | 1:29:00 | Women's Volleyball

Match Notes at ND Invitational

By: Will Becque, SIUSalukis.com

The Southern Illinois University volleyball team will play in its final non-conference matches of the 2017 season at the Notre Dame Invitational. The Salukis will take on Central Michigan on Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET, before facing Notre Dame (12:30 p.m. ET) and concluding with Michigan State (4:30 a.m.) on Saturday.

All-time vs. Notre Dame
The Salukis and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will tangle for the fourth time in program history, and the first time since 1991. Notre Dame won the last meeting, a 3-1 (10-15, 15-5, 15-7, 15-8) victory on Sept. 28, 1991 and holds a 3-0 record in the all-time series.

Scouting the Fighting Irish
The Irish come into the weekend with a 7-1 record and are receiving votes for inclusion in the AVCA Top-25 poll. Notre Dame's lone blemish this season came at the hands of the Ohio State Buckeyes, who defeated the Irish in straight sets. The two squads played their second-straight match with the Irish avenging their loss, defeating the No. 24 Buckeyes in four sets. Sophomore Jemma Yeadon has paced the attack for the Irish, as she's averaging 3.96 kills per set. Notre Dame was picked fourth in the ACC preseason poll and placed senior middle blocker Sam Fry and senior setter Caroline Holt on the Preseason All-ACC Team.

All-time vs. Central Michigan
SIU will open the weekend against Central Michigan, with Friday's matchup marking the 12th meeting all-time between the two programs since 1976. SIU holds a 6-5 advantage in the all-time series, with last season's 3-0 sweep of the Chippewas giving SIU an edge in the all-time series. Nellie Fredriksson hit .421 and had 10 kills in the win over CMU a year ago, while Andrea Estrada added eight kills and a team-high 12 digs.

Scouting the Chippewas
The Chippewas are 7-2 this season and have won five of their last six matches. This past weekend, Central Michigan went 2-1 at its home tournament, defeating Campbell and George Mason. Jordan Bueter was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Offensive Player of the Week after she recorded 65 kills and six service aces en route to earning a spot of the all-tournament team.

All-time vs. Michigan State
The Spartans hold a 4-0 record all-time against the Salukis, having defeated Southern in straight-sets a year ago. Michigan State, one of SIU's five opponents this season who advanced to last season's NCAA Tournament, are ranked No. 23 in the most recent AVCA Top-25 poll.

Scouting the Spartans
Michigan State comes in with a 5-1 record, with its lone loss coming at the hands of Georgia Tech. The Spartans were picked fourth in the Big Ten preseason poll, and Spartan senior middle blocker Alyssa Garvelink was named to the All- Big Ten Preseason Team.

Hitting for a high average
The Salukis hit a season-best .311 in the win over SEMO on Sept. 12. It was the first time Southern hit .300 or better since Oct. 29, 2016 against Bradley. SIU was 7-1 last season when hitting .300 or better.

Forming a brick wall
The Salukis tallied 11 blocks against the Redhawks on Sept. 12. It marked the second time this season, and the 71st time in the last six seasons, that SIU has recorded double-digit blocks. Southern improved to 57-14 (.802 winning percentage) when recording 10-plus blocks.

24 digs from 500
Ashley Edelen is 24 digs shy of 500 for her career. Through eight matches this season, she has already amassed 124 digs, which are the second-most in a single-season in her career.

Libero spot on lock
Edelen has started at libero in all eight of SIU's matches this season, and has recorded double-digit digs in six of Southern's eight matches this season, which includes three matches in which she has amassed 20+ digs. Coming into the 2017 season, Edelen had only reached double figures in digs in 11 of her 80 career matches.

Setting up for success
Having played in all eight of SIU's matches this season after playing in nine-straight to end her freshman campaign, Alayna Martin has already surpassed her season totals from last season. She has posted season-highs in assists (199), service aces (8), digs (48) and kills (3).

Cracking 900
Abby Barrow put down a team-best 16 kills in the win over SEMO on Sept. 12. With her eighth kill against the Redhawks, Barrow eclipsed 900 kills for her career. She needs 92 kills to become the 15th Saluki to reach the 1,000 kill plateau.

Second Career Double-Double
Abby Barrow recorded her second career double-double in the win over SEMO on Sept. 12. The Metamora, Ill. native did it all for the Salukis, as she finished with 16 kills, 12 digs and a career-best four service aces. She also hit a season-best .286 and added a pair of assists, which marked the first time since her freshman season (9/2/14 vs. Middle Tennessee) that she has recorded two assists in the same match.

9 away from 600
Nellie Fredriksson is coming up on a career milestone. The Angelholm, Sweden native tallied 11 kills in the win over SEMO, and now has 591 for her career.

Even Split
Alayna Martin and Rachel Maguire continue to pilot SIU's 6-2 offense, and both were integral in Southern's five-set win over SEMO on Sept. 12. Martin tallied 32 assists and three digs, while Maguire posted her first career digs-assists double-double. Maguire set career-bests in both assists (29) and digs (10).

10+ kills
Maggie Nedoma finished with 13 kills on 32 swings in the win over SEMO, and has put down 10-plus kills in four of SIU's last five matches. The Brook Park, Ohio native's 18 kills against Oakland on Sept. 8 were not only a career-best, but the most by a freshman since Andrea Estrada finished with 18 against Indiana State on Oct. 24, 2014.

Making the most of her swings
Kolby Meeks hit a career-high .625 against SEMO on Sept. 12, as she put down 10 kills on 16 attempts without recording a hitting error. It marked the fifth time in her career that the Norcross, Ga. native has recorded at least 10 attacks without committing an error.