Spencer Reaches Milestone in IPFW Sweep of Salukis

Saturday, August 31

Fort Wayne, Ind.

1 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

2-0

Southern Illinois

1-1

Southern Illinois

IPFW

Emily Spencer, shown here with an attack attempt against Southern Illinois, knocked down her 1,000th career kill against the Salukis (photo by Lucas Carter)

Photo by: Lucas Carter

Spencer Reaches Milestone in IPFW Sweep of Salukis

8/31/2013 3:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

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FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Junior outside hitter and defending Summit League Player of the Year added a milestone to her lengthy resume, as she eclipsed the 1,000-kill plateau on Saturday afternoon in the first of two matches on the day, as the IPFW Mastodons swept the Southern Illinois Salukis 25-16, 25-23, 25-23.

Spencer's 19 kills were a match-high, as she became the 16th player in program history to eclipse the 1,000-kill plateau. Katie Higginbotham and Sarah Heckman each had eight kills, while Hailie Ripley added seven. Madison Spence gave out 37 assists, with Jen Milligan serving up a trio of aces.

Milligan reached double-figure digs for the second consecutive match with 10, while Spence had eight. Ripley had a match-high six blocks, while Higginbotham added three in the winning effort.

IPFW never trailed in the opening set, as Southern Illinois twice tied the score, at 1-1, and 2-2. Tied 2-2, the Mastodons ran off a 4-1 run to lead by three, and never trailed again. IPFW led by seven at 19-12, and IPFW scored the final five to take the opening set 25-16.

For the first half of the second set, Southern Illinois was in control, leading by as many as three at 7-4, and as late as 14-13, before the Mastodons rattled off four straight to turn a one-point deficit into a three-point lead. The IPFW lead grew to as many as five at 23-18, before the 'Dons held on late for a 25-23 second-set win.

Southern Illinois dominated early out of the break, leading by as many as six at 12-6 before IPFW rattled off an 8-1 run to take a 14-13 lead. Two straight Saluki points put the visitors back on top; however, the momentum was clearly in IPFW's favor, as the team pushed ahead to a 20-17 lead.

Not giving up, SIU put together four straight points to re-take the lead at 21-20, and led by one at 22-21 before IPFW closed the door by scoring four of the last five points, clinching the match at 25-23.

Jessica Whitehead and Taylor Pippen each had 12 kills for Southern Illinois, with Elly Braaten adding 11. Hannah Kaminsky picked up a 38-assist, 10-dig double-double, while three players - Whitehead, Pippen, and Emily Less - each had three blocks.

The Mastodons return to the Gates Sports Center on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in the final match of the IPFW Hyatt Place Invitational where the team plays host to the UCONN Huskies.