Season Ends at Grand Valley

Box Score

November 16, 2007

         ALLENDALE, Mich. -- Saddled with playing the top seed on its home court, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville volleyball battled but fell to defeat to Grand Valley State in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional semifinals.
         SIUE, ranked No. 13 in the final regular season AVCA/NCAA Division II poll, ended its season with a 27-7 record after a 30-25, 23-30, 30-26, 30-14 loss to the sixth-ranked Lakers. All seven of SIUE's losses this season came from teams ranked in the Top 25 national poll.
         Coach Todd Gober reflected on his 2007 team after the season-ending loss.
         "Starting the season, we thought we had a good team. I thought we had good leadership, and it turned out to be true," said Gober.
         The Cougars, who had defeated Grand Valley State earlier this season on a neutral court, dueled with the Lakers throughout the match, recording the same number of digs and just two fewer kills for the match. The difference came in the details with Grand Valley's 11 blocks and seven service aces.
         Middle hitter Kelsey Hubert and freshman right-side hitter Sydney Winslow paced the Cougars with 14 kills each.
         SIUE junior setter Mallory Clements, who became SIUE's all-time leader in service aces on Thursday, led all players with 27 digs along with her six kills and 43 assists.
         "Mallory really had a good year," said Gober.
         Samantha Schulte and Kate Hofeldt also finished in double figures with 12 and 10 kills, respectively.
         Rebeccah Rapin led the Lakers with 17 kills with two attack errors as the Lakers hit .240 for the match. Grand Valley State, now 32-3, faces off against Great Lakes Valley Conference champion Lewis in the finals Saturday.
         In finishing the season for SIUE, Gober also acknowledged senior Sadie Zurliene, who played in her final match as a Cougar.
         "Sadie worked her way into a starting position her senior year and was one of our captains. Sadie Zurliene really finished her career on a high note," said Gober.
                  -siue cougars-

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Players Mentioned

#15 Mallory Clements: S; 6' 0"; Junior

#18 Kate Hofeldt: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

#4 Kelsey Hubert: MH; 5' 11"; Junior

#5 Samantha Schulte: MH; 6' 0"; Junior

#13 Sydney Winslow: OH; 6' 1"; Freshman

#8 Sadie Zurliene: S; 5' 7"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#15 Mallory Clements
: 6' 0"; Junior
: S

#18 Kate Hofeldt
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH

#4 Kelsey Hubert
: 5' 11"; Junior
: MH

#5 Samantha Schulte
: 6' 0"; Junior
: MH

#13 Sydney Winslow
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: OH

#8 Sadie Zurliene
: 5' 7"; Senior
: S