EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE volleyball (12-15, 7-9 OVC) is set to take on #1 SEMO (16-12, 13-3 OVC) Nov. 19-20. The first serve is set for 6:00 p.m.

The Cougars are 15-15 in the all-time series. The last time the two teams met the Cougars won 3-2. 

SIUE last took on UT Martin Nov. 14-15 defeating the SkyHawks 3-1 and 3-0 in the two game series. These two game secured a spot in the OVC tournament for the Cougars. The second game against UT Martin also marked Head Coach Kendal Paulus's 100th career win. 

BLOCK PARTY: 

• Taya Nordmann the 6-2 middle recorded the second most total blocks (14) in the nation during a five set match against USI. She trails Ellie Hamm from California who had 17 against Syracuse. 
• Nordmann is nationally ranked 83rd in blocks per set (1.28) second in the OVC, and 34th in total blocks (129) good for second in the OVC.
•  As a team the Cougars recorded the second highest single-game high of 24 blocks in a five set match against USI. This places the team behind California who had a single-game high of 27 blocks agaisnt Syracuse. 
• SIUE is ranked 31st nationally for blocks per set (2.55) and 7th in team total block (293.5).
• The Cougars lead the OVC in both categories. 

2024 TEAM LEADERS: 

• Anisley Ranstead leads the team with 41 service aces good for second in the OVC and 72rd in the nation. 
• Sydney Hummert leads the team in kills per set (2.80), good for ninth in the OVC. She also leads the Cougars in points this season averaging 3.35 per set (301.5 total points ).
• Nicole Medlin leads the team in attack  percentage at .316 off of 227 kills this season.
• Alyse Drifka leads the team in assists with an average of 4.93 per set (532 assists) off of 108 sets played.
• Olivia Hogan leads the team in digs this season (202), averaging 2.849 a set. 

CAREER BEST: 

• Hummert recorded her 1,000th career kill September 28. Hummert is the first player since Kirsten Torre (2015,1,256 kills) to surpass 1,000 career kills. 
• Drifka recorded her 2,000th career assists October 12, passing her original record (1659). Drifka is 66 digs away from her 1,000th career dig.
• Corinna Jones reached her 2,000th career assists October 29. 

AT THE HELM: Head Coach Kendall Paulus is in her 14th season with the Cougars and her eighth as head coach, with a career record of 100-117 Against conference opponents, she owns a 63-66  record. 

PRESEASON HONORS: Hummert earned preseason OVC honors following her 2023 season, she led the Cougars with 315 kills, and 2.76 kills per set ranking 9th in the conference. She added 35 service aces, while recording 66 total blocks. Hummert locked away 793 total digs last season surpassing the 500 career marker.