Shockers at Southern Illinois (Fri, 7pm) and Evansville (Sat, 6pm)

[flyingMoose]

I will leave it to @1972Shocker: to provide his usual pre-match comments, but here is the Eagle article, speaking about the choice to run the 6-2 some, and notes from the Shocker Web site.

[1972Shocker]

I just arrived in Carbondale. I won't be making any pre-match comments but I may have some post-match thoughts after watching tonight's match as well as tomorrow night's match at Evansville.

[flyingMoose]

In the pre-game, Lambo spoke highly of Jenny Whitledge and the upside they see for her. Katy D is the new face in the starting lineup.

[flyingMoose]

Shocks are running the 6-2. Salukis take their second timeout at 19-15.

Another attack error by Katy (she is 1-4-5 for -.600) and the Shocks take a timeout at 19-17.

[flyingMoose]

Set 1

Shocks 25-20 Southern Illinois

Mikaela led the Shockers with five kills. We hit .273 v .257 for the Salukis.

[flyingMoose]

Illinois State 25-20 UNI in their first set.

[Shocker-maniac]

5-2 Shocker in 2nd set.
Hiebert with 10 assists so far.

[flyingMoose]

10-6 and a Saluki timeout.

17-11 and the second Saluki timeout.

[flyingMoose]

Set 2

Shockers 25-18 Southern Illinois

For the match, we are hitting .299 v .209 for SIU. Mikaela has seven kills, while Ashlyn and Abbie each have five.

[flyingMoose]

Illinois State 20-25 Northern Iowa

and their match is tied at a set apiece.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers 18-16 Southern Illinois

and the Salukis call their first timeout of the third set.

Now 22-17 and we get their second timeout.

[Shocker-maniac]

K / pct.
Driskill 9 / .600
Lehman 8 / .500
Raudsepp 9 / .250
Whitledge 7 / .200

Extremely difficult to hear Lambo's post-game comments.

The company (Shocker Sports Properties/CBS Collegiate Sports Properties) that produces these Internet broadcasts really needs to get its act together.

[flyingMoose]

Set 3

Shockers 25-21 Southern Illinois

Mikaela's kills ended all three sets. For the match, Mikaela and Ashlyn had nine kills, Abbie had eight and Jenny had seven. We hit .317, they hit .232 for the match. Mash played in the third set rather than KatyD.

In the post-game comments (those that you could hear - again, only Mike's mic is going down the pipe and you have to hear Lambo over Mike's mic), Lambo was not happy with some of the setter's decisions.

[flyingMoose]

Other Friday scores

Indiana State 3-1 Drake

Loyola 3-0 Bradley

Evansville 0-3 Missouri State and

Illinois State 3-1 Northern Iowa
25-20, 20-25, 25-17, 25-23. Trailing 14-22 in the fourth set, the Panthers closed to 21-22, but the Redbirds sided-out to win the set and match.

[1972Shocker]

As @flyingMoose reported the Shocks went exclusively with the 6-2 in tonight's match and overall they played pretty well. The attackers were all pretty solid except for Katy Dudzinski who had her good moments but offset those with an equal number of errors. However, it is obvious why Lambo would like to have Katy in the mix.

Dani was the only little to play and she was very good. Jenny had a lot of digs was well and Mikaela is very solid digging and passing for a 6-2 freshman.

One thing the 6-2 does do is eliminate our setter's ability to dump. Also it seemed to me like the offense ran smoother when Emily was in the match than when McKenzie was in.

Pretty good turn out of students for SIU. I think they had some kind or promotion tonight and they did just about fill up half the gym with a good portion of the 407 in attendance being students. And gym is the operative word. Pretty much high-school type gym with pull out wooden bleachers that had 9-rows of seats although they only pull out about 3 rows behind the benches. My wife and I were definitely missing the nice chairback seating of Koch Arena by the 3rd set.

That said I must say that SIU has a very nice campus.

Onward to Evansville tomorrow.