Southern Illinois University
1-9
University of Notre Dame
9-1
Saluki Volleyball comes up short on final day of Shamrock Invitational
09/16/2017 | 8:58:00 | Women's Volleyball
Kolby Meeks was named to the Shamrock Invitational All-Tournament Team.
The Saluki volleyball team fell to Notre Dame and No. 23 Michigan State to conclude play at the Shamrock Invitational Saturday.
SIU (1-10) lost to the Irish (10-1) in straight-sets, 25-21, 25-14, 25-16, before falling to the Spartans in three sets, 25-22, 25-22, 25-20.
Kolby Meeks was named to the Shamrock Invitational All-Tournament Team after she hit .545 during SIU's three matches. The Norcross, Ga. native put down 20 kills on 33 attempts with just two hitting errors and was a force defensively, as she led the Salukis with 1.11 blocks per set.
In SIU's first match of the day, the Salukis hit at a .103 clip, while the Irish hit .276.
Meeks led the Saluki attack against the Irish, as she finished with a team-best nine kills and hit .533. She also recorded a solo block and three block assists. Maggie Nedoma tallied eight kills on 23 swings with two digs and four block assists, while Patience Brown added three kills and three block assists. Ashley Edelen paced the Saluki defensive efforts with 14 digs while Rachel Maguire dished out a team-best 15 assists.
In the finale of the Shamrock Invitational, Michigan State (6-3), who was ranked No. 23 in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Poll, had a balanced attack of four hitters with at least eight kills.
Nedoma led the way with eight kills to go along with three digs. Meeks hit .600, as she put down six kills on 10 attempts with no errors. It marked the sixth time in her collegiate career that she has recorded at least 10 attacks without committing a hitting error.
Southern finished with five team blocks, including three block assists from Meeks. Nellie Fredriksson added two block assists and seven kills while Andrea Estrada added 15 digs, four kills and a block assist.
Alayna Martin narrowly notched her third double-double of the season, as she tallied 16 assists and eight digs in the loss to the Spartans.
The Salukis will open Missouri Valley Conference play Friday, Sept. 22 when they travel to Peoria, Ill. to take on the Bradley Braves. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
