Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Indiana State University
Saluki Volleyball returns home to take on Indiana State/Evansville
10/31/2018 | 5:17:00 | Women's Volleyball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois University volleyball team returns home to Davies Gym to host the Indiana State Sycamores on Friday, Nov. 2 before taking on the Evansville Purple Aces on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
Promotions
Its alumnae weekend at Davies Gym! All alumnae of Saluki volleyball will receive free admission to the volleyball matches and are encouraged to attend the weekend's festivities.
All-time vs. Indiana State
The Salukis hold a commanding 51-20-1 all-time record over the Sycamores and have won five of their last six at home against Indiana State. The Sycamores swept the Salukis in Terre Haute on Oct. 6 behind 14 kills by Laura Gross. The first set of that match, a 35-33 win for Indiana State, was the longest set that the Salukis have played in the rally scoring era (since 2008).
Scouting the Sycamores
The Sycamores snapped a five-match skid with a 3-1 win over Bradley on Oct. 27. The Sycamores had three hitters reach double figures for kills, led by Laura Gross, who finished with 19. Gross currently leads the Sycamores attack with 3.15 kills per set and is second on the team with 3.93 digs per set while Jade York leads the defensive efforts with a 4.28 digs per set average.
All-time vs. Evansville
The Salukis hold a 44-13 advantage in the all-time series versus the Purple Aces. Evansville has now won two in a row over SIU after snapping an 11-match losing streak to the Salukis at the end of last season. SIU has won 11-straight over Evansville on its home floor and is 27-3 all-time at Davies Gym vs. the Purple Aces.
Scouting the Purple Aces
The Purple Aces have lost four-straight and six of their last seven coming into Saturday night's matchup. Evansville is led by returnees Rachel Tam and Mildrelis Rodriguez, who currently rank 1-2 in the MVC in attempts. Tam leads the conference, and ranks 10th nationally, in total kills with 408 kills while Rodriquez leads the Valley in service aces (28) and is sixth in the league in total kills (306). As a team, the Purple Aces rank second in the Valley in service aces and third in aces per set.
Closing the Block
Emma Baalman's move to the right side freed up more playing time for middle hitter Lindsey Paulsen, who has flourished at the position as of late. She set a career-best with nine total blocks against Missouri State on Oct. 27 and followed with seven blocks in three sets against Loyola on Oct. 29. Her 16 blocks in her last two matches are the most by a Saluki in consecutive matches since Alex Rosignol also tallied 16 against UCF and Western Michigan on Sept. 2-3, 2016.
Spark on the right side
Emma Baalman has started the two past two matches on the right side and finished with a career-high nine kills on just 22 swings against Missouri State on Oct. 27. During those two matches the Calhoun, Ill. native is hitting at a .315 clip, including at a .409 clip against the Lady Bears.
First Ace
Laura Rojas served up her first ace of the season at Loyola on Oct. 29. She also finished with seven digs and two assists.
Big Block
The Salukis recorded a season-high 13 blocks in their four-set loss to Missouri State on Saturday, which were their most in a Missouri Valley Conference match since Sept. 22, 2017 at Bradley when Southern also recorded 13. 5 Salukis tallied multiple blocks, led by a career-best nine blocks by Lindsey Paulsen. It marked the 13th time in Coach Thompson's two seasons at the helm that the Salukis have tallied double-digit blocks.
Most Blocks in a four-setter
Lindsey Paulsen's nine blocks in SIU's four-set match against Missouri State on Oct. 27 are the most in a four-set Missouri Valley Conference match this season. Paulsen's nine blocks broke a five-way tie that including Patience Brown's eight blocks against CSUN (Sept. 7) for most blocks in a four-set match this season and are tied for the third-most in a match of any length in the Valley this season.
Big Night in the middle
Lindsey Paulsen got the start in the middle against Missouri State on Saturday and turned in a career night. The Frankfort, Ill. native put down her first 10 kills without recording an error and set career-bests in kills (12), attempts (21), hitting percentage (.476) and blocks (9). Paulsen's nine blocks were the most by a Saluki since Patience Brown did so at Indiana State a year ago to the day (Oct. 27, 2017).
Reached the century mark
With her three assists against Drake on Oct. 13, Marissa Rossi dished out her 100th assist of the season. It marks the third-straight season in which the Salukis have had a freshman dish out at least 100 assists and just the 10th time in school history (dating back to 1980) that a first-year has reached the century mark in assists.
Double Doubles
Alayna Martin recorded her 12th assist-dig double-double of the season at Loyola, as she finished with 28 assists and 10 digs. Her 27 career double-doubles are tied with Heather Herdes for the 11th-most in program history. Marissa Rossi, meanwhile, recorded her first career double-double against Arkansas State on Sept. 14 and set career-bests in both assists (12) and digs (15) while Rachel Maguire notched her first career kills-digs double-double in Southern's season opening win over IUPUI, as she put down 12 kills and added 14 digs.
Freshman Contributing
Kat Wagner has been one of SIU's most consistent passers in the back row this season and has tallied 183 digs, the second-most on the team. She is just the 25th Saluki to record 150-plus digs as a freshman (since 1980) and with 17 digs she can become the 20th Saluki freshman to reach 200 digs.
