KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville volleyball claimed the No. 1 seed and hosting duties for the upcoming Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament with a dramatic four-set victory over Rockhurst Friday night.
         No. 17-ranked SIUE, 23-4 overall and 14-0 in the GLVC, won the battle of ranked teams by defeating No. 16 Rockhurst 25-30, 30-24, 30-28, 30-27. It was the first time ever SIUE has won at Rockhurst and is the 28th consecutive GLVC regular season victory for the Cougars over the past two seasons.
         SIUE, the defending GLVC champions, will be the host institution for the GLVC Tournament on Nov. 2-4 at the Vadalabene Center. SIUE will play its first GLVC Tournament match at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 against an opponent to be determined.
         Kim Potthast powered the Cougar attack with 22 kills and six blocks. Kate Hofeldt turned in another strong performance against Rockhurst with 18 kills, having previously recorded 20 in SIUE's five-set win at home against Rockhurst on Sept. 9.
         Kelsey Hubert, who pounded the match-winning kill for the Cougars, accounted for 14 SIUE kills. Emily Rahn added 10 kills.
         SIUE scrambled for 16 blocks against the Hawks, which fell to 22-3 overall and 11-2 in the GLVC.
         Rachel Fowler led the Rockhurst attack with 19 kills.
         SIUE looks to extend its GLVC regular season winning streak Saturday at 3 p.m. at Drury in Springfield, Mo.
                  -siue cougars-