SIUE volleyball to face a familiar face in GLVC tourney

Rick Crossin
Sports Editor

It's deja vu all over again for the SIUE volleyball team in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.

The Lady Cougars, for the second year in a row, will face Northern Kentucky University in the GLVC Tournament.

"Again," coach Joe Fisher said. "If not the first round, then in the second round. You have to get through them sooner or later."

Since the start of the 1998 season, the Lady Cougars have lost four straight matches to Northern Kentucky.

In the two teams' only meeting this season, Northern Kentucky dominated, winning in straight games by scores of 15-7, 15-7 and 15-12.

But Thursday's meeting could have quite a different outcome.

Last season, Northern Kentucky came into the GLVC tournament on a 21-match winning streak. But this season, the Norse come into the tournament in slightly different fashion, having split their last two conference matches of the season.

The one loss came at the hands of conference bottom dweller St. Joseph's College, whom SIUE handled rather easily earlier this season.

"It's unusual for them," Fisher said. "I think in years past, Northern Kentucky goes through the conference schedule undefeated and nobody really tests them. This year is different.

"With two losses to Lewis (University) and not playing well against the second-worst team in the conference and losing, it's unfamiliar ground for them," Fisher said.

Despite Northern Kentucky's vulnerability entering the tourney, SIUE has had its share of problems with the Norse in the past, but Fisher has confidence that Northern Kentucky is beatable.

"I think they are," Fisher said. "I don't think they have the offense that they did last season. This year, if you play good defense against them, that's what keeps you in the match."

According to Fisher, passing and blocking will be keys to their match against Northern Kentucky.

"We've got to pick up balls that would normally hit the floor," Fisher said.

Unfortunately, history again is not on SIUE's side when it comes to first-round games in the tournament.

Over the past three seasons, the Lady Cougars have only advanced past the first round of the tournament once, losing to Northern Kentucky in the semifinals.

"I really don't think it's the pressure," Fisher said. "Honestly, I think it's a credit to the competition in the conference."

A win could put a positive spin on what has been a frustrating season.

"I think a win will make us feel a little better about how things have gone," Fisher said. "To know that things really didn't go our way this season, but we can play with the best teams, that's the big thing."

This year's tournament will be at the University of Indianapolis in Evansville, Ind., and SIUE's match will start at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.