Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Volleyball	SIUE Volleyball SIUE Athletics

For the fourth consecutive season, the Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville volleyball team has wrapped up its season with a stellar
record.

The 1999 squad compiled a 22-11 record overall, and finished second in the
GLVC blue division with a 13-3 record, under first-year head coach Joe
Fisher. 

The Cougars finished up its season in the semi-finals at the Great Lakes
Valley Conference tournament in Northern Kentucky last weekend. SIUE
defeated Missouri-St. Louis 3-1 in the first round of play. The team then
faced host Northern Kentucky, who finished the year undefeated in the
GLVC. Despite strong efforts, the Cougars lost to No. 3 team in the
nation, Northern Kentucky, in four games.

Junior Lindsay Rust, along with seniors Kim Gilman and Anne Ulrich, led
the Cougars to another winning season by posting solid numbers. Rust, of
Belleville, averaged 4.09 kills and 3.87 digs per game and earned first
team All-GLVC honors for the second consecutive year. Gilman, of
Springfield, was third on the team in digs with 392. She surpassed her
sister Michelle to become the all-time career leader in digs with 1,416.
Gilman finished second on the team in assists (131) and block assists
(57). Ulrich, of Washburn, led the team in service aces with 53 good for
fourth in the conference. She finishes her collegiate career third on the
all-time career service aces list with 110, four shy of teammate Gilman.
She was also second on the team in kills per game (2.97) and digs per game
(3.85). 

Fisher realizes it is hard to fill the shoes of Gilman and Ulrich, but
sees the depth of young talent still on the team.

"It is tough to replace them, but with the people we have coming back you
can only look to bigger and better things."

Sophomore Jennifer Parks, of Taylorville, stepped up this season in the
middle hitter position to lead the team in blocks per game with 1.10. 

Junior transfer Kathy Dulle, of Mt. Pulaski, averaged 11.55 assists per
game to finish sixth in the conference. 

"Kathy did a good job coming in and doing what we needed her to do."

Junior Heather Vaughan, of Mt. Pulaski, and sophomore Meghan Daugherty, of
Canton, added depth to the Cougar team primarily in the areas of serving
and defense. Vaughan and Daugherty finished the season with 38 and 31
service aces, respectively. 

Fisher is pleased with the versatile play of Vaughan and Daugherty this
season.

"Meghan is the only one to play every game, while Heather has made a nice
transition from middle hitter to a primary passer role."

The Cougars also got some significant playing time from freshman Audrey
Husk, Kelly Schaill and Jenny Franklin. Husk, of Salem, averaged 2.33
kills per game as a middle hitter and finished second on the team in block
solos with 13. Schaill, of Princeton, and Franklin, of LaSalle, saw
limited action, but added the extra depth Fisher was looking for off the
bench.

"All three of them contributed greatly this season," Fisher said.
"Everyone coming back will be key to next season."