Saluki Volleyball Heads South for Colonel Classic

The Southern Illinois University volleyball team heads south to Thibodaux, La. for the Colonel Classic. The Salukis are set to take on UC San Diego (12 p.m.), Southern University (4 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 2 before tangling with Nicholls (12 p.m.) on Saturday, Sept. 3.

Scouting UC San Diego

The Tritons went 2-1 at the San Diego State Invitational last weekend, as it posted wins over Army and Cal.
Ava McInnes averaged 3.38 kills per set last weekend to pace the Triton attack.
McInnes ranks fifth in the Big West in points (4.23 avg/s), sixth in aces (0.54 avg/s) and seventh in the conference in kills (3.38 avg/s)
The Tritons, like the Salukis, return 10 letter winners from a year ago.

All-time vs. the Tritons

Friday's matchup will mark the first-ever meeting between the Salukis and the Tritons.
The Salukis are winless in six all-time meetings against Big West opponents, with Friday's meeting marking the first time since 2018 (CSUN) that the Salukis have taken on a Big West opponent.

Scouting Southern

Southern lost all three of its matches at the Tiger Brawl, hosted by the University of Memphis. The Lady Jaguars took just one set in its three matches.
The Lady Jaguars were picked to finish fifth in the SWAC Preseason Poll.
Janelle Bye-Blacknard averaged a team-best 1.80 kills per set during Southern's opening three matches while All-SWAC Preseason selection Trenity Lundy paced the Lady Jaguars defensive efforts with her 4.10 digs per set average.

All-time vs. Southern

This will also mark the first-ever meeting between the Salukis and the Lady Jaguars.
SIU is 7-1 all-time vs. SWAC opponents.

Scouting Nicholls

Nicholls went 2-1 at the Tiger Brawl last weekend, as it posted wins over Southern University and Central Michigan.
Devon Bright was an all-tournament selection after she put down 47 kills in Nicholls' three matches, which included a career-high 26 against Memphis.
The Colonels were picked to finish eighth in the Southern Conference Preseason Poll.

All-time vs. Colonels

SIU is 2-0 all-time vs. Nicholls.
Southern has swept the Colonels each time they have faced previously, as the Salukis won in straight-sets in Thibodaux on Sept. 4, 2004 and swept the Colonels again eight year later on Sept. 7, 2012 in Banterra Center.
Current Saluki assistant coach Jessica Whitehead had seven kills and two blocks in SIU's win over Nicholls on Sept. 7, 2012.

FIrst DUB of 2022

SIU downed UT Martin, 3-0 in straight sets for its first win of the 2022 season.
The Salukis overcame adversity throughout Tuesday's contest to pick up their first sweep at Martin since 2014.
Nataly Garcia and Ceci Bulmahn both had kill-dig double-doubles in the win.
Garcia finished with a team-high 14 kills to go along with 11 digs while Bulmahn notched the second double-double of her young career with 11 kills and 13 digs.
Tatum Tornatta joined Garcia and Bulmahn in double figures with 11 kills and hit at a .308 clip.

Serving up Aces

Peyton Plant currently leads the Valley with a .67 aces per set average.
Plant served up a career-high four against SIUE to open the season, which equaled her number of career aces that she had amassed in nine career matches prior to this season.
The Littleton, Colo. native added a pair of aces against Grambling.

Off to a hot start

Ceci Bulmahn had a historic debut for the Salukis against SIUE on Friday, Aug. 26.
Bulmahn's 15 kills were tied for the most kills in a season debut by a freshman in school history.
Bulmahn tied Haley Hann's 2003 school record of 15, which Hann set against Austin Peay.
Bulmahn has put down double figure kills in each of her first three matches as a Saluki.
The McCordsville, Ind. native ranks second amongst Valley freshmen, and 29th nationally, in kills per set (3.0/set).

Making the most of her opportunity

Fellow freshman Annabelle Sulish has appeared in all three matches this season for the Salukis.
Sulish put down seven kills on 15 swings against Grambling and followed with nine digs and three aces in the win over UT Martin.
Sulish's three aces were all the more impressive given she served back-to-back aces to end the match.

On a tear

Tatum Tornatta has been on a tear to start the 2022 season.
Tornatta has put down double-digit kills in each of SIU's three matches and is hitting an impressive .354 while doing so.
The Evansville, Ind. native hit a career-high .565 with 15 kills against Grambling on Aug. 27.

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Cecilia Bulmahn

Nataly Garcia

Annabelle Sulish

Tatum Tornatta

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