Spring Break
Column: Cougars upstart in OVC
Bob Bajek / Staff Reporter
Issue date: 11/5/08 Section: Sports
Eastern head coach Lori Bennett saw first hand Saturday at Edwardsville a new foe that might give her Panthers trouble in future years.
Ohio Valley Conference newcomer Southern Illinois Edwardsville methodically dispatched Eastern in a sweep (25-17, 25-13, 25-20) during the first regular match up between the recently christened rivals.
Southern Illinois Edwardsville head coach Todd Gober said he noticed the Panthers playing in new packages or out of their normal positions.
"They are a well established program and will be a nice addition to the conference especially from a volleyball standpoint," Bennett said.
The Cougars (11-11) out hit the Panthers .295-.077 and scored 42 kills to Eastern's 28.
Senior setter Mallory Clements, a two-time Division II All-American, had 29 assists, seven kills and three aces to frustrate Eastern.
"She was a great setter who was a bit unpredictable," sophomore middle blocker Jorie Dieter said. "Their outsides knew how to put the ball away."
The Cougars won 25 or more matches from 2003-2007 while dominating the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
They have gone to the NCAA D-II National Tournament for three consecutive years. Gober has a 187-67 record through eight seasons.
The Cougars replaced Samford as the 11th member of the OVC on June 11, leaving the GLVC.
SIUE upgraded from a Division II program and will not fully be a conference member until 2011 or compete in a playoff match before 2012.
Samford left the OVC officially on July 1 and went to the Southern Conference.
There, the Bulldogs have a 24-3 overall record and 13-1 league mark.
The Bulldogs concluded 2007 11-9 in OVC play and 16-13 overall.
Gober said by changing leagues and not participating in a tournament, his team had to come up with different goals.
"The team was motivated in playing Division I schools," Gober said. "They were bummed not playing for a championship, but we wanted to show Division I teams we belong."
To counter the departure of the seniors, Gober added recruiting would be selling the idea that the future Cougars are pioneers and will be able to compete in the OVC playoffs in 2012.
"Some people are negative in recruiting, but they are normally teams not making the OVC Tournament," Gober said. "It will take a few years to build up the program and not be one shot wonders."
The Cougars faced nationally ranked Illinois at Champaign Sept. 19, losing in three sets and falling to 2-5.
Southern Illinois Edwardsville then went 9-6 and 5-1 against OVC schools, largely from the lessons and adjustments they made from the Illini match, Gober said.
With an enthusiastic coach at the helm, a winning tradition and future recruits flooding the Vadalabene Center, the Cougars could be a top OVC squad for many years.
Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7944 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.
Ohio Valley Conference newcomer Southern Illinois Edwardsville methodically dispatched Eastern in a sweep (25-17, 25-13, 25-20) during the first regular match up between the recently christened rivals.
Southern Illinois Edwardsville head coach Todd Gober said he noticed the Panthers playing in new packages or out of their normal positions.
"They are a well established program and will be a nice addition to the conference especially from a volleyball standpoint," Bennett said.
The Cougars (11-11) out hit the Panthers .295-.077 and scored 42 kills to Eastern's 28.
Senior setter Mallory Clements, a two-time Division II All-American, had 29 assists, seven kills and three aces to frustrate Eastern.
"She was a great setter who was a bit unpredictable," sophomore middle blocker Jorie Dieter said. "Their outsides knew how to put the ball away."
The Cougars won 25 or more matches from 2003-2007 while dominating the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
They have gone to the NCAA D-II National Tournament for three consecutive years. Gober has a 187-67 record through eight seasons.
The Cougars replaced Samford as the 11th member of the OVC on June 11, leaving the GLVC.
SIUE upgraded from a Division II program and will not fully be a conference member until 2011 or compete in a playoff match before 2012.
Samford left the OVC officially on July 1 and went to the Southern Conference.
There, the Bulldogs have a 24-3 overall record and 13-1 league mark.
The Bulldogs concluded 2007 11-9 in OVC play and 16-13 overall.
Gober said by changing leagues and not participating in a tournament, his team had to come up with different goals.
"The team was motivated in playing Division I schools," Gober said. "They were bummed not playing for a championship, but we wanted to show Division I teams we belong."
To counter the departure of the seniors, Gober added recruiting would be selling the idea that the future Cougars are pioneers and will be able to compete in the OVC playoffs in 2012.
"Some people are negative in recruiting, but they are normally teams not making the OVC Tournament," Gober said. "It will take a few years to build up the program and not be one shot wonders."
The Cougars faced nationally ranked Illinois at Champaign Sept. 19, losing in three sets and falling to 2-5.
Southern Illinois Edwardsville then went 9-6 and 5-1 against OVC schools, largely from the lessons and adjustments they made from the Illini match, Gober said.
With an enthusiastic coach at the helm, a winning tradition and future recruits flooding the Vadalabene Center, the Cougars could be a top OVC squad for many years.
Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7944 or at rtbajek@eiu.edu.
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