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Volleyball wins 28th Saluki Invitational
Sep. 8, 2007 By Shalae Schulte
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois (8-2) volleyball team picked up two victories over UMKC (3-7), 3-1, and Murray State (3-6), 3-1, the final day of the 28th Saluki Invitational, sweeping the tournament field to take the team championship for the first time since 2000. Marina Medic was named the Most Valuable Player after posting 45 kills in the tournament with just five errors for a 3.45 kill per game average. The sophomore middle hitter also posted three solo and 20 block assists on the weekend. She recorded a career-best 19 kills, nine block assists against Murray State, the final match of the tournament. Medic is the sixth Saluki in program history to be named a Saluki Invitational MVP. Former Saluki Kristie Kemner was the last SIU player honored in 2000. Setter Brooklyn Robbins and right side hitter Kristie Berwanger were also named to the all-tournament team. Berwanger recorded three double-doubles on the weekend, recording 18 kills, 11 digs against Cleveland State Friday, before putting down 18 kills and a match-high 20 digs against UMKC Saturday afternoon. The junior recorded 17 kills and a career-high 21 digs Saturday night against Murray State, averaging 4.08 kills and 4.00 digs per game on the weekend. Robbins averaged 11.85 assists and 2.92 digs per game for the Salukis, recording two double-doubles on the weekend. Middle blocker Chandra Roberson also put up big numbers on the weekend averaging 3.31 kills and 1.62 blocks per game on the weekend, while libero Kristy Elswick averaged 5.38 digs per game. The junior is now 103 digs away from the career record at SIU, already holding the single-season record set in 2006.
The Saluki block was dominate on the weekend out-dueling opponents at the net 48.0 to 19.0. Saturday night against Murray State SIU set a school-record for block assists in a match with 36, also setting a new mark for block assists in a four-game match. Southern's 8-2 start is the best for a Saluki team since the 1985 team started the season 8-2 10 matches into the season. The Salukis will travel to Illinois on Wednesday, Sept. 12, to take on the Fighting Illini at 7 p.m. before returning home to Davies Gym to open Missouri Valley Conference play against Illinois State at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14. 28th Saluki Invtitaional All-Tournament Team |
Sand Tournament Fundraiser
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