The SIUC volleyball team takes to the highway this weekend with one senior spiker on the road to a killing record.

Unaware of her destiny with the record books, senior outside hitter Heather Herdes is on a pace to step into the No.9 spot on SIUC’s all-time kill list, as the spikers take on conference rivals Creighton University and Wichita State University, Saturday and Sunday.

Its really nice to be in the record books, it’s something that says you are doing well, she said. It’s something that I should accomplish since I’ve played all four years.

Advertisement

Herdes is leading SIUC in kills this season, averaging 3.23 per game for a total of 71 on the season. Herdes needs only six more kills to take over the No. 9 all-time kill spot from current holder Darlene Hogue. If Herdes keeps pace with her average, she is due to slide into the No. 9 spot this weekend.

Herdes said since she has been with the Saluki squad, she has tried to be consistent and improve her game each year.

This year I hope to improve on everything, she said. I hope to have more kills than I did last year, have more aces, better passing and less errors.

I know I’m hitting twice as well as I did last year and I’m playing where I’d like to be playing.

During last weeks victories against, Evansville University, Indiana State University and Austin Peay University, Herdes had a total of 37 kills, averaging 3.36 per game. Of those kills, 24 were against Evansville alone. Currently, Herdes stands at the No. 10 in all-time kills with 864.

As if kills were not enough, Herdes leads the Salukis in aces this season with a total of 17.

Herdes’ work ethic, designed to improve her individual performance, speaks for her individual accomplishments. However, being unaware of this weekend’s possible record speaks for her team effort.

Advertisement*

I really don’t know anything about it (record), Herdes said. I don’t think about it until the end of the year. That’s when we add up the stats.

Herdes said a team effort of good sets and good passes has allowed her to achieve the number of kills she has so far.

As a team we are playing at a better level, she said. They (team) are the only reason I can even attempt to break any records.

Coach Sonya Locke said Herdes’ performance this season does not come as a shock to her.

Heather is a big part of our offense, Locke said. She is playing the way I knew she was capable of playing. I am not surprised.

Heather has a lot of opportunities, so she is going to get a lot of kills.

The Salukis are 2-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play and post a 4-2 overall record. They will face Creighton Saturday evening. The Lady Jays are 0-2 in conference action and 2-4 overall.

Saturday’s matchup against Creighton is only the second time the two teams have ever met. Last season the Salukis beat the Lady Jays both times they faced them.

Sunday, the Salukis face Wichita State. The Shockers are 1-1 in MVC play and 1-5 overall.

Locke said a team’s record does not speak for how they can perform on the court.

We are all human beings with a temperament, she said. Because of that temperament, teams can force you to make errors in any game.

They can do that and they can beat you.

Wichita State beat Bradley, which was picked to finish ahead of Wichita State in the preseason coaches poll.

Despite a lack of consistency, Locke said she is pleased with the overall performance of the team.

Right now we are playing the way we are supposed to be playing, Locke said. We have a lot of seniors who are mature enough to do what they are supposed to be doing.

However, we are not consistent. We beat Austin Peay 15-7, 15-7, then 15-11, but that is not consistent enough.

As for Herdes, becoming No. 9 on the all-time kill list will be the farthest thing from her mind this weekend.

Its always nice to be recognized and to get these kinds of things, Herdes said. But when I’m out there on the court I’m not even thinking about it.

I’d like to break records by winning all of our games.