Salukis return home to host Panthers, Bulldogs

Friday, October 12

Carbondale, IL

6 p.m.

Southern Illinois University

University of Northern Iowa

10/10/2018 | 7:47:00 | Women's Volleyball

By: Will Becque, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois University volleyball team returns to Davies Gym this weekend after a four-match road swing. The Salukis host the first-place Northern Iowa Panthers on Friday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. for their Dig for a Cure match. Southern is back in action the following night when it hosts the Drake Bulldogs at 7 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.

Promotions

SIU volleyball will host its annual "Dig for the Cure" match Friday against first-place Northern Iowa. Saturday against Drake is autograph night, as fans can hang around after the game and get a schedule poster signed by their favorite Salukis.

All-time vs. UNI

The Panthers hold a commanding 55-13 lead over the Salukis in an all-time series that dates back to 1982. Northern Iowa won the most recent meeting between the two schools, a 3-0 sweep on Nov. 12. The Salukis had won four-straight against Northern Iowa on their home floor prior to last season's loss.

Scouting the Panthers

UNI received votes in the latest AVCA Top 25 poll and have won seven-straight matches to open Valley play and have dropped just two sets to MVC foes. The Panthers are ranked in the top-10 nationally in both assists per set (5th, 13.82/set) and kills per set (6th, 14.71/set). Karlie Thomas ranks ninth nationally in kills per set (4.82) while Rachel Koop's 11.6 assists per set are ranked ninth nationally as well.

All-time vs. Drake

SIU holds a 43-20 advantage in the all-time series, including a 24-8 record at home against the Bulldogs. Southern has won seven-straight over Drake on its home floor, including last season's 3-2 comeback win. Southern's last home loss in the series came on Sept. 18, 2010- a 3-0 setback.

Scouting the Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have won three of their last four matches coming into their weekend series. The Bulldogs are ranked in the top-20 nationally in four categories, including digs per set (18th; 17.6/set), attacks per set (10th; 39.15/set) and total team attacks (17th, 2,819). The Bulldogs are one of four MVC teams (Illinois St., Drake, Loyola and Valparaiso) with five hitters with at least 100 kills, led by Cathryn Cheek. Cheek is averaging 3.43 kills per set.

Setting It Up

Junior setter Alayna Martin leads the team in both assists (506) and digs (173) and has eight double-doubles on the season. This season, the Chesterfield, Mo. native has set career-bests in kills, digs and assists. She dished out a career-best 48 assists in SIU's season opening win over IUPUI (8/24) and later tied her career-best with 17 digs against CSUN (9/8).

Longest set in awhile

The Salukis and the Indiana State Sycamores battled to 10 set points in a 35-33 set one win for Indiana State on Nov. 6. It was the longest set that Southern has played in since the NCAA reduced sets to 25 points in 2008.

Playing beyond her years

Maggie Nedoma has already left her mark on the 2018 season. Her 22-kill performance against UT Martin (8/25) ranks eighth for kills during a single match in the Missouri Valley Conference (five sets). The sophomore opposite hitter has recorded 14 double-digit kill performances and she currently ranks fifth in the MVC with a 3.52 kills per set average. Her 232 kills, meanwhile, have surpassed her freshman year total and are the most by a MVC underclassmen so far this season.

Piloting the offense

Marissa Rossi helped handle the setting duties against Indiana State Saturday night and set career-bests in kills (1) and assists (21). Her first collegiate kill came on a setter dump that tied set one of Saturday night's marathon first set, 32-all. The freshman setter also added seven digs against the Sycamores.

Salukis At The Net

Southern's middles Patience Brown and Emma Baalman are leading the Saluki defensive effort at the net, as Brown's 48 total blocks are most on the team while Baalman's 44 total blocks rank second. Brown also leads the team with nine solo blocks. Brown's eight blocks against CSUN (9/7) are tied for the most in a four-set Missouri Valley Conference match this season.

Martin Making Her Mark

Alayna Martin continues to climb higher in SIU's record books for career assists. Martin ranks 15th all-time in assists (1258). She needs 68 assists to pass Dawn Thompson (1985-88) for 14th all-time. The junior setter is also 37 digs shy of 500 for her career.

2018 Schedule Breakdown

The Salukis have only five more home matches following this weekend's festivities. Southern will host travel partner Missouri State on Oct. 27 before welcoming Indiana State and Evansville on Nov. 2-3 for Alumnae Weekend. SIU closes out the 2018 regular season on Nov. 16-17 against Loyola and Valparaiso.

Academic Culture

SIU head coach Kari Thompson has instilled a culture that promotes success both on and off the court and it has been evident in the continued academic success of the program. Southern posted a 3.41 grade point average during her first season to garner an AVCA Team Academic Award and placed eight on the MVC Honor Roll.

Libero Time

Three different Salukis, Alison Thomas, Laura Rojas and Keera Clarke have donned the libero jersey at various times this season. Thomas is second on the team in digs (167) and has eight double-digit dig performances this year, including a career-high 25 digs in SIU's win over IUPUI (8/24). Rojas made her first career start at SEMO (9/4) and recorded a career-best 14 digs vs. CSUN (9/7) while Clarke has three double-dig outputs this season, including 16 in back-to-back matches vs. Arkansas State and Central Arkansas.

Lots of New Faces

Southern added 10 newcomers in the offseason, of which eight are freshman and two are transfers. The 20-person roster is the largest for the Salukis in the NCAA-era (since 1982) and their eight freshmen are the third-most in school history. Only the 2003 (11) and 2013 (9) Salukis had more first-years on their opening day rosters. The 2013 Salukis went 20-13 and advanced to the MVC Championship match.