Not since 1985 has the SIUC women’s volleyball team been off to a better start in the Missouri Valley Conference.

After defeating conference rivals Southwest Missouri State University on Saturday and Tulsa University on Sunday, the spikers take sole possession of first place in the Valley.

Thanks in part to 11 straight service points by senior defense specialist Shelby Best, the spikers managed to overcome a two games to one deficit against SMSU to beat the Lady Bears in five games.

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On Sunday, the spikers beat the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa in three matches 15-2, 15-2 and 15-7. Senior outside hitter Beth Diehl led the Saluki attack with 10 kills.

Diehl said the spikers 6-0 start is a definite plus as SIUC heads to Northern Iowa to take on the Panthers next weekend in Cedar Falls.

It gives us confidence knowing we beat these teams, but we have had a tough time against Northern Iowa, she said. They are such a confident team. Going up to play Northern Iowa is something we live for.

It’s very important for us to go up there and show them that we are something to be reckoned with.

The Panthers were picked to win the Valley in the preseason coaches poll. However, SIUC volleyball coach Sonya Locke said preseason predictions are not etched in stone.

Anytime there are preseason polls of that nature, we are put in a position where it seems nobody respects what we can do on the court, she said. Every match is a different match. Its going to be interesting to see what we can sustain when we have got a start like this.

Locke said Northern Iowa has made a formidable opponent in the past.

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Northern Iowa is a tough place to play and we have not been successful up there, Locke said. That should not prevent us from being successful.

By no means are we going in there expecting to lose.

Locke said keeping Northern Iowa off balance is the key to success.

We have to pound them, she said. We have to block well and we have to serve well.

If we are good and solid in those areas we have a good opportunity to win.

Following Northern Iowa, SIUC will face Drake on Saturday afternoon.