Nov. 17, 2007

By Shalae Patrick
www.siusalukis.com

Box Score

NORMAL, Ill. - The Southern Illinois volleyball team fell to Illinois State in three, 30-21, 30-27, 20-24, Saturday night in Redbird Arena in the Salukis final regular season match. SIU already clinched the sixth and final spot in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Nov. 23-24, making their first post-season appearance in five years.

Jennifer Berwanger led the Salukis with 12 kills, eight digs and two blocks, while Chandra Roberson added nine kills.

SIU's setter Brooklyn Robbins picked up her 10th double-double of the year with 32 assists and 13 digs on the night.

The Redbirds won nearly every statistical category, but Southern out-blocked Illinois State 8.0 team blocks to 6.0. All five Saluki starting hitters pitched in at one block solo each.

Kari Staehlin led the Redbird offense hitting a match-high .615 with 17 kills and just one error in 26 attempts.

Illinois State's Mallory Leggett pitched in 15 kills and seven digs, while Kasey Mollerus recorded a match-high 21 digs in the win.

Southern wraps up the regular season with the most overall (15) and conference (7) wins since 2002. The Salukis face the No. 3 seed in the first round of the tournament Friday, Nov. 23.