Nov. 16, 2007

By Shalae Patrick
www.siusalukis.com

Box Score

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Southern Illinois volleyball team secured the edge in possible tie-breaker scenarios and the No. 6 seed in the 2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Championship. The Salukis earn their first trip to the championship since 2002 with a sweep of Indiana State Friday at the ISU Arena, 30-21, 30-19, 31-29.

The Salukis (15-14, 7-10 MVC) recorded the most wins in Valley play since 2002 with the victory over the Sycamores (3-22, 0-17 MVC). The victory put SIU up one match on Evansville, who lost to Illinois State in Normal Friday night, 3-0. The teams have been deadlocked in the race for the sixth spot in the conference tournament, each team sweeping the other on their home courts this season.

SIU handled INS, 30-21, in game one, hitting .227 in the victory. The Sycamores fought back to hit .321 in game two with just five errors, but the Salukis hit a match-high .387 with just three errors in the 30-19 victory. Game three came down to the wire, the Salukis hitting just .137, but the home team recorded 11 errors for a .065 average falling in three, 31-29.

Jennifer Berwanger led the Salukis with 13 kills, six digs and four blocks on the night. Marina Medic hit a team-high .455 with 11 kills and just one error in 22 attempts. The sophomore middle blocker also pitched in four block assists.

Chandra Roberson recorded 11 kills at the net with just three errors in 24 attempts for a .333 average, while Kristie Berwanger added seven kills, two solo and six block assists.

Brooklyn Robbins led the Saluki offense with a team-high 34 assists and five digs, and Kristy Elswick added a match-high 16 digs.

The Salukis wrap up conference play at Illinois State Saturday at 7 p.m. in Redbird Arena.