Saluki Sports
Part of the Daily Egyptian
Salukis blank Racers
Drew Stevens
dstevens@dailyegyptian.com
Murray State's misery continued Tuesday night as the Salukis handed the Racers their sixth-straight loss.
The Racers were swept for the fifth time in as many matches as SIU ran away with a 30-20, 30-26, 30-20 win.
Murray State's top three players -Paige Sun, Nikki Wong and Lilli Zhan - were ruled ineligible after the first tournament of the season, causing a few of its players to have to adjust to playing new positions. The Racers have not won a single game since Oct. 12.
"I think that [Murray State's] confidence is just kind of shot right now," said SIU head coach Sonya Locke.
SIU (7-15, 4-6) was in control most of the match. Murray State's biggest lead was a 4-0 advantage in game three.
The Racers led all of game three until a Saluki kill fell between three Racers, evening the game at seven apiece. Murray State finished game three with a .000 hitting percentage, and Jené Pulliam took over from there.
The sophomore recorded six of her 12 kills and scored five of the Salukis next 10 points before taking a breather. "I was just really ready to get out of here," Pulliam said. "We really wanted to beat them in three. We've only done that one other time this year."
Pulliam was one of three Salukis with double-figure kills. Fellow sophomore Haley Hann led the way with 13 kills on the strength of a .367 attack percentage, and senior Carrie Shephard hit .350 with 10 kills. Shephard added eight digs and six blocks.
"I kind of just focused on what I needed to get done," Shephard said.
The Salukis held Murray State to a .116 hitting percentage. The Racers came into Tuesday's match allowing an Ohio Valley Conference worst .231, and gave up a .278 attack percentage to the Salukis.
Senior Kimberly Bunnage leads Murray State in kills a game with 3.74, but was held to just eight kills and a .148 attack percentage Tuesday. Sophomore Allie Hunt was the only Racer in double figure kills with 15.
The Salukis' only previous sweep this season was against Nicholls State Sept. 4 at the Trosclair Memorial Tournament.
"I think what was more important than the win itself was that we won in three, because now we know we're capable of doing that," Locke said.
SIU will finish its four-match homestand this weekend against Creighton Friday at 7 p.m. and Drake Saturday at 3 p.m.
SIU lost at Drake 3-2 Oct. 1 and was swept at Creighton Oct. 2.
The Salukis are currently in sixth-place in the Missouri Valley Conference all by themselves, but have little margin for error with both Evansville and Indiana State nipping at their heels at a match back.
"What we saw tonight isn't even close to what we're going to have to play against on Friday - if we're going to take that step closer in getting to the conference tournament," Locke said.
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Last update: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 at 12:54:33 AM
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