Despite wins against Southwest Missouri State University and Wichita State University last weekend, SIUC volleyball coach Sonya Locke says there is no time to enjoy the victories.

I’m happy to get the wins, but we don’t have time to sit around and savor victories, Locke said. We have to totally focus our attention again on another team and get better at the things we didn’t do well last week.

The Salukis enter tonight’s home match against the University of Evansville with a 6-7 overall record and 3-3 record in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Purple Aces come into the contest at the bottom of the MVC standings with a 1-5 conference record and 8-9 overall.

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SIUC has won seven straight matches against the Purple Aces, but Locke does not want her team to underestimate Evansville’s ability.

The Purple Aces have non-conference victories over Austin Peay State University, who beat SIUC earlier in the Saluki Invitational, and DePaul University this season.

The Aces also boast the MVC’s fourth-leading blocker in Jessica Kiefer. Kiefer, a 6-foot-3 freshman middle blocker, is averaging 1.17 blocks per game.

We are going to approach Evansville just like any other Friday night match, Locke said. We’re still going to go at them the same way as other teams.

The Salukis will counter Kiefer with junior middle blockers Monique Galvin and Laura Pier. Galvin’s 1.30 blocks per game rank second in the MVC, while Pier’s 1.08 are eighth.

Defense has been the focal point of the Salukis’ game plan in recent matches. It showed last weekend, as the Salukis outblocked the competition 18-13 in the two matches. SIUC’s 122 total team blocks in the MVC rank behind one school, the University of Northern Iowa.

Locke plans to continue to stress defense because she believes most matches are won on the defensive side of the net.

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First of all, you can only win a game or match if you beat the other team to 15 three times, Locke said. And defensively is the only way you can stop a team from scoring points. I think it has to be stressed.

Junior outside hitter Lindsay Fisher said Locke’s persistence of stressing defense has improved the team’s overall morale.

(Locke has) really been spending practice toward the team we have been playing, she said. (Last weekend) was a big confidence builder because the teams we beat were good teams. We proved we could play with any team in the conference.

FACTOID:The Salukis face the University of Evansville at 7 tonight in Davies Gymnasium.