Oct. 20, 2006

By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com

Box Score

NORMAL, Ill. - The Southern Illinois volleyball team was held to a .030 hitting percentage, falling in three straight games to Illinois State Friday night in Missouri Valley Conference action at Redbird Arena.

The Redbirds (11-10, 5-5) extended their regular-season win streak over the Salukis (9-11, 4-6) to 31, taking the last 32 of 33 meetings from SIU dating back to 1991.

Illinois State posted 52 kills to Southern's 27 in the three-game set in the Redbirds' favor, 30-20, 30-25, 30-19.

"We just struggled all night," Saluki head coach Brenda Winkeler said. "It was a lack of intensity. We stayed with our game plan. We out-blocked them. We had a lot of balls fall we just didn't go after it with any intensity."

Southern put up 8.0 team blocks to Illinois State's 3.0, but the Redbirds still hit .257 on the night.

Johannah Yutzy led the Salukis with eight kills, adding three block assists on the night.

Kristie Berwanger posted seven kills, 12 digs, one solo and two block assists, while Chandra Roberson and Kelsie Laughlin combined for 10 kills, one solo and three block assists. Laughlin also added 12 digs.

Kristy Elswick recorded 22 digs. Her season total of 413 keeps the sophomore at fifth all-time for digs in a season, 50 digs away from fourth.

Lindley McDavid and Mary Catherine Richmond combined for 23 kills, 16 digs for Illinois State.

The Salukis will travel to Terre Haute, Ind. Saturday to take on the Sycamores of Indiana State at 6 p.m. Central.