Sept. 15, 2009

NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State handed the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville volleyball team a 25-19, 25-19, 25-17 defeat Tuesday night at Redbird Arena.

"We played good defense, and we could hit with them," said Gober.

Sydney Winslow led the SIUE offensive attack with a match-high 14 kills. Winslow also hit a team-best .400 for the match.

The Cougars also picked up double-digit kills from Karie Downing, who finished with 11. Gober said he moved Downing to the outside hitter position, which gave SIUE another dimension offensively.

It was SIUE's attack errors that proved to be the difference in Tuesday's match. SIUE committed 21 attack errors, including match point on a block by Angela Rego and Emilead Manahan. SIUE finished with a .156 hitting percentage. The Redbirds, which improved to 5-6 overall, committed just seven attack errors and finished with a .316 for the match.

The Cougars, 0-12, held their own early. SIUE held a 10-9 lead on a kill by Downing and was tied 14-14 after a kill from Winslow in set one. The Redbirds then went on a 6-1 run, ending with a service ace from Tracey Lonergan.

Mallory Leggett was the lone player with double digit kills for Illinois State with 13. She also added 13 digs.

The Redbirds finished with five blocks. SIUE's defense was not credited with a block for the match.

Gober said playing a tough schedule right now is only going to make his team better later.

"It (the schedule) is making a big difference. We're playing good, solid volleyball programs and challenging ourselves," said Gober.

The Cougars next prepare for their final regular season tournament at Saint Louis University. SIUE faces host SLU Friday at 7 p.m. SIUE meets UC Davis at 1 p.m. and Toledo at 5 p.m. Saturday.

"What we're focusing on now is the second half of the season. We've learned a lot about ourselves," Gober noted.

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