Match Notes
SIUE volleyball will play at First Community Arena for the first time this season, as the Cougars welcome the Jacksonville State Gamecocks to Edwardsville for a two-match tilt.
Live coverage of tomorrow's match and the rematch on Monday afternoon will be available on ESPN+. Live stats will also be available at SIUEStats.com and in-match updates will be available on Twitter @SIUEVolleyball.
"BRUIN" UP A SWEEP
The Cougars opened the Spring 2021 season with back-toback victories at Belmont, sweeping the season series with the Bruins with consecutive three-set wins in Nashville.
TOP-TIER DEFENSE
SIUE's Savannah Christian kicked off the Spring 2021 season in remarkable fashion, securing the first Defensive Player of the Week award of the season following a series that saw her notch 20 kills, a .462 hitting percentage, and 14 total blocks.
Christian's efforts would also earn her OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors, the first of her career.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
This week's series between the Cougars and Gamecocks will see the final regular season fixtures between the two schools as members of the Ohio Valley Conference, as the 2020-21 academic year marks Jacksonville State's last in the OVC. JSU enters the contest at 2-0, following victories over defending OVC champion Southeast Missouri.
Coach Paulus on this week's matchup with JSU:
"We are looking forward to battling both games this week. Both teams are playing good volleyball right now. JSU will be both an offensive and defensive challenge that we believe we are ready for."
FRESH FACES
SIUE volleyball welcomes four new student-athletes to the program in Spring 2021:
• Alyse Drifka, a setter from Richfield, Wis.
• Sydney Hummert, an outside hitter from Quincy, Ill.
• Jenna Taphorn, an outside hitter from Pekin, Ill.
• Julia Treichel, an outside hitter/defensive specialist from Brookfield, Wis.
Head Coach Kendall Paulus on how these newcomers will impact the game this season:
"I think the newcomers will help impact the game because they don't know what to expect. So they don't have this perfect vision of how a perfect day goes. So I think they're open-minded and they're ready to take on whatever comes their way."
GOIN' BACK TO BACK
The Ohio Valley Conference and its 12 member institutions decided to play a conference-only schedule this season, which will see teams play back-to-back matches on consecutive days against the same opponent.
Coach Paulus' thoughts on the new scheduling format:
"I'm really excited to play back-to-back on consecutive days against the same opponent because I think we can handle adjustments really well. I think we'll be able to make changes from Sunday to Monday well because of how many veterans we have on this squad."
VETERAN PRESENCE
In any season, veteran players play a critical role in keeping their team calm and collected, regardless of what the opponent throws their way. That role is made even more essential in a season such as this, where preparing for unexpected is crucial to the success of any team or individual. Fortunately, the Cougars have an abundance of returning players, having graduated just four from last season.
Coach Paulus on how she expects the returning players to impact the game:
"I expect the returners to help us stay confident and being able to expect the unexpected. If they can keep us calm when we come into some chaotic situations, I think the rest of the team will respond really well."
