Oct. 20, 2009

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Tuesday, October 20, 2009) – The Redhawks volleyball team saw their two match winning streak come to end as they dropped a tightly contested 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 18-25) to non-conference, regional rival Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in Houck Field House on Tuesday evening. The loss concluded the Redhawks five-match homestand in which they went 2-3.

The Redhawks (8-13) jumped ahead early in the opening set as they built a 6-2 lead. The Salukis (14-6) battled back thanks to a 5-0 run to grab the upperhand and pulled ahead by as much as three, 14-11. Later in the match the Redhawks regained the lead, 20-18 due to a 4-0 run. The Salukis would close out the set by winning three of the final four points.

The Redhawks recorded 15 kills and just four attack errors in the opening set. However the Salukis finished with 18 kills and just three attack errors.

In the second set the Redhawks again jumped ahead early and never gave up the lead. The Salukis were able to cut the lead to one, 17-16. The Redhawks then closed out the set with an 8-1 run to win the set including a 6-0 run highlighted by back-to-back kills by Karleigh DeLong (Santiago/Corona, Calif.) for the final points.

The third stanza was all Salukis as they never trailed in the set despite the Redhawks best efforts. Trailing 19-14 the Redhawks cut the lead to two points, 19-17 thanks in part to some highlight reel exchanges and hustle. However that momentum would be short-lived as the Salukis won the set thanks to a 4-0 run to end the frame and grab a 2-1 match advantage.

After hitting .000 in the second set the Salukis finished with a .273 attack percentage in the third set. The Redhawks could only muster a .106 attack percentage.

The Salukis parlayed that momentum into the fourth and deciding set as they jumped ahead 11-3 thanks to a 9-0 run. The closest the Redhawks could get was six points the rest of the way as the Salukis ran their record to 11-0 against non-conference foes this season and snapped a three-match losing streak.

The Redhawks finished with a .134 attack percentage and allowed the Salukis a .197. One of the major differences in the two teams was the Salukis tall, athletic frontline that recorded 20 block assists and two solo blocks. In comparison the Redhawks had just six block assists and one solo block.

The Redhawks had two player in double figures in kills led by DeLong who recorded her seventh double-double of the season with a match-high 19 kills and 15 digs. DeLong also had a team-best .250 attack percentage on a match-high 60 swings. Ten of her kills came in the first two sets.

The OVC’s reigning Offensive Player of the Week, Emily Hughes (St. Benedict/Memphis, Tenn.) finished with 13 kills.

Kelly Benacka (Jacobs/Algonquin, Ill.) recorded her team-high 11th double-double of the season. She finished with a team-best 40 assists and chipped in 14 digs defensively.

Molly Davis (Burris/Muncie, Ind.) led all players with 27 digs. It was her 13th match this season she has recorded 20 or more digs.

Amanda Rickhoff (Southwestern Illinois College/Bartelso, Ill.) added 17 digs and Claire Keaton (Incarnate Word Academy/St. Louis, Mo.) closed out with 13 digs.

Emily Maher (Marcus/Flower Mound, Texas.) led the team with three block assists.

Making her first appearance since Sept. 11th , senior setter Sarah Barth (Central Community/Germantown, Ill.) looked recovered from her wrist injury as she finished with seven assists in limited action.

The Salukis had three players in double-digits in kills led by Jennifer Berwanger’s 17. Berwanger also chipped in 21 digs for a double-double. Laura Thole had 10 kills and 16 digs for her double-double. Setter Rachael Brown finished with a match-best 49 assists and added 18 digs for a double-double.

Lauren Blumhorst led the Salukis with 25 digs and Chandra Roberson had a match-best six block assists and added 12 kills.

The Redhawks resume Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend with two crucial road matches starting with Tennessee State on Friday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m. and concluding with Austin Peay on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.