It has been a whirlwind year in Saluki sports.
The 2008-09 calendar brought everything from conference championships to changes on coaching staffs and in the locker room. With the school year coming to a close, members of the DE Sports Desk reflected on the year that was.
Biggest improvement
Luis C. Medina: Quarterback Chris Dieker started as a relative unknown, worked his way to being Joe Allaria’s back-up then captured the starting job and helped lead the Salukis to a Missouri Valley Football Conference championship. He has grown leaps-and-bounds on the field and as an interview subject. Not bad for once being buried on the depth chart.
Ryan Voyles: The women’s tennis team has emerged as a challenger in the MVC in just two seasons under head coach Audra Nothwehr. The Salukis just posted their best record since 1991 and look to improve in the future. Nothwehr has done an incredible job bringing respectability — and wins — back to SIU.
Derek Robbins: Last season, Felipe Villasenor suffered through injuries and went 2-2 while mostly competing in No. 4 singles. This year, Villasenor split time between No. 1 and No. 2 singles going 17-7. At one point in the year, Villasenor won eight straight matches and goes into the NCAA Tournament match against UCLA as the Salukis’ No. 1 player. If that’s not an improvement, I really do not know what is.
Brian Feldt: Saluki Way. SIU finally has tangible results to the massive $83 million project. By the time students return in August, Saluki Way should be well on its way to completion. It’s without a doubt an exciting time to be a Saluki fan.
Stile Smith: Mark Bowman. During his first three years as a member of the SIU cross country team, head coach Matt Sparks described Bowman as just being happy to be on the team. That all changed during Bowman’s senior season, as he was consistently a top-five runner for the Salukis.
Sean McGahan: The SIU football linebacker corps. Transitioning from a 4-3 system to a 3-4 overnight is no small task, but a great group of tough players improved exponentially over the course of the season to keep opposing offensive linemen’s heads on a swivel all season. This bunch was downright mean and got the whole team and the crowd pumped up with hard hits and versatile coverage.
Best quote
Luis C. Medina: “I don’t care what it says on the front of their jerseys, I just know that they’re going to be different than ours. That’s what I care about.” – SIU basketball head coach Chris Lowery before a team practice as they prepared for the 2K Classic in New York City.
Ryan Voyles: “Well, I’m a history major, so I guess that makes me professionally unemployed. I’ll probably go back home, mooch off my mom and dad for awhile.” –Phillip Collier, senior golfer, on his plans after college.
Derek Robbins: “Even if we lose in the tournament, we get to go to California! That’s just excellent.” –Junior men’s tennis player Lucas Waked upon learning that the men’s tennis team would be playing against UCLA in the NCAA Tournament.
Brian Feldt: Anything out of the mouth of former SIU running back Larry Warner. Just ask a question, and listen for minutes as Warner rambles on about anything and everything.
Stile Smith: “We always give each other high fives before every set and Elswick taps my butt. It’s just something she’s always done since I’ve been here.” –junior middle block Chandra Roberson talking about her superstitions with senior libero Kristy Elswick.
Sean McGahan: SIU athletics may not bring in the nation’s top-ranked recruits year in and year out, so they have to work and practice much harder to compete at a level among the elite. SIU track and field throwing coach John Smith pretty much summed up this university-wide, blue-collar mentality last week when he said, “What I do for training, other people think is crazy.”
Best game
Luis C. Medina: Senior Day is special in its own right, but when the game is decided on a walk-off grand slam, it undoubtedly belongs as one of the best games of the year. SIU erased a 3-1 deficit against Bradley April 25 in the bottom of the seventh when junior second baseman Alicia Garza sent a pitch over the left field wall to complete the come-from-behind win.
Ryan Voyles: The football matchup between SIU and then-No. 5 Northern Iowa, which SIU won 27-24. Kyle Dougherty’s game-winning 40-yard field goal to end it was simply an epic finish to a great game.
Derek Robbins: The men’s tennis MVC tournament finale was an instant classic. It had everything that you could possibly want from a sports matchup. It was back-and-forth with the game literally going to the final match, which went to three sets. What made it better is that Drake beat SIU in two of the last three years. This was retribution.
Brian Feldt: The football team’s last second victory against Missouri State. Quarterback Chris Dieker’s 50-yard bomb to receiver Marc Cheatham gave the Salukis a dramatic 23-17 victory over the Bears. And in my opinion, it was the point in the season where the Salukis realized they had something special.
Stile Smith: In its season opener, the women’s basketball team took down a tough Saint Louis Billikens team 85-77. Down one at halftime, the lead switched hands 10 times in the first 20 minutes of the game. Katrina Swingler led the team with 28 points in one of its best games of the season.
Sean McGahan: With the women’s basketball team coming off an eight-game losing streak and no conference wins, I didn’t expect to see a close game when I went to take photographs of the team in a Jan. 29 matchup against Wichita State. And after overtime, it wasn’t close. The Salukis completely unraveled the Shockers after the regulation buzzer sounded, holding them to a single point with stingy defensive and aggressive pressure. I know new coach Missy Tiber boasts offensive intensity, but I hope the Salukis still remember the defensive ferocity I saw in that overtime.
Best play
Luis C. Medina: Ryan Berry, the Valley’s most prolific quarterback, looked poised to score at least the game-tying field goal for South Dakota State in the game’s waning moments. James Wheeler picked off an errant pass to secure the win against the Salukis.
Ryan Voyles: It has to be Kyle Dougherty’s 40-yard field goal to put the Salukis over Northern Iowa 27-24. The whole situation was surreal, and I’ve never seen so many people celebrating at McAndrew Stadium before. Heck, most people actually stayed the entire game, a rarity for the crowd.
Derek Robbins: A groundout to short is my answer. Southeast Missouri’s Nick Harris grounded out in the bottom of the 10th inning to give SIU junior closer Bryant George the most career saves in SIU history (20). It’s always nice to see records get broken, and in my opinion George’s record-breaking performance was the best of the year. Let’s hear it for groundouts!
Brian Feldt: Take your pick. Any of the three kickoff returns that running back Larry Warner took for TDs. I prefer his opening play 97-yard return against Northern Iowa, which set the tone for one of the most exciting games all season.
Stile Smith: Tied at 67, sophomore forward Carlton Fay hit a 3-point shot from the left corner, then continued to tell UMass’ senior forward Tony Gaffney all about it back down to the defensive end in SIU’s 80-73 victory over the Minutemen to advance to the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden.
Sean McGahan: Men’s basketball guard Kevin Dillard helped make a game out of what hadn’t been one when the Salukis faced the UIC Flames in Chicago Feb. 21. An off-balance, nearly no-look three-bomb from Dillard was one of his three from long-range in the final two minutes that woke up the fans for the first time in the second half. Even though they lost the game, Dillard’s impossible shot showed what promise this young team has for next season.
Biggest achievement
Luis C. Medina: Kudos to Athletic Director Mario Moccia for hiring Missy Tiber. While some fans might have wanted a high-profile assistant coach from a power conference, I think Moccia made the right hire here. He and his committee found a candidate that is familiar with reviving underachieving programs that will hopefully rid the women’s basketball team of what ailed it over the past two seasons.
Ryan Voyles: I have to go with the men’s tennis team upsetting Drake for its first conference title in 18 years. Not only will the Salukis be in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 18 years, but they did it by defeating the three-time defending champions.
Derek Robbins: The women’s tennis team may not have went on to win the MVC Tournament, but they were a below .500 squad last year. This time around they won 17 games and finished as the third seed in the MVC championship. They even had the second best record! This turnaround is pretty impressive. It may not be as decorated as the men, but it made the women’s tennis program one to watch.
Brian Feldt: Football coach Dale Lennon winning MVFC Coach of the Year in his first season.
Stile Smith: Sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Berwanger being named to the first team all-MVC team. Berwanger was the go-to player all season for the volleyball team, and she was recognized for her efforts after all was said and done.
Sean McGahan: Scheduling Missouri to play the SIU football team in 2012. If both programs can keep up their recent winning ways, it will be a border war for the ages this alumnus hopes to attend.
Most Valuable Saluki
Luis C. Medina: Kerri Blaylock’s playing days are behind her, but the Saluki softball coach’s value is seen across the athletic spectrum. She led the Salukis to a strong record on the field (33-12) and off it (3.447 team grade point average in 2008). In addition to her work on the diamond, Blaylock served on the committee that helped hire a new women’s basketball coach. Her dedication to SIU athletics should be acknowledged.
Ryan Voyles: Kevin Dillard from the men’s basketball team gets my vote here. Mr. Basketball came in with high expectations, and he matched them all, if not surpassed them. Although he struggled in the MVC tournament, Dillard seems the perfect building block for the Salukis.
Derek Robbins: Eric West is an absolute beast on the tennis court. His huge winning streak earlier in the year was instrumental in the men’s tennis program making it to the NCAA Tournament. The team, no matter what was happening, could count on a singles point from West. He was money. He is my Saluki of the year this year, and guess what? He’s going to keep getting better. He could seriously be nationally ranked collegiately in the future. Keep your eyes on him.
Brian Feldt: Linebacker Ryan Patton. He didn’t get some of the press many other linebackers did but he was at the core of a defense that was stellar all season.
Stile Smith: You can’t look past men’s basketball point guard Bryan Mullins. The four year starter garnered post season hardware for his efforts on and off the court, and he served as a mentor for a guy who will make a lot of noise for the Salukis in the future in Kevin Dillard.
Sean McGahan: I’ll give some love to SIU’s legendary libero from Louisville, volleyball senior Kristy Elswick. After crushing the all-time digs record in her junior year, Elswick kept up the production in her senior season as a leader on the Davies Gym hardwood. Her example will hopefully help lead a legion of up-and-coming Saluki squads for years to come.
Coach of the Year
Luis C. Medina: Football offensive coordinator Phil Longo deserves a tip of the cap. He taught a boatload of talented, yet somewhat inexperienced players a complex offense. Then, on a weekly basis, explained it to me until I understood it.
Ryan Voyles: Dann Nelson from the men’s tennis team gets my vote. After finishing below .500 last season, the team roared back this season to take conference. In his sixth season as a Saluki, Nelson has built the tennis team up to a competitor in conference — and nationally.
Derek Robbins: I have to go with women’s tennis coach Audra Nothwehr. Through bringing in MVC women’s player of the year Fadzai Mawisire, she helped improve a below .500 program a lot this year. Her attitude has instilled a lot of optimism into the women’s tennis program. Winning championships isn’t everything, but putting your team in a position where they repeatedly can win is.
Brian Feldt: Dale Lennon.
Stile Smith: Matt Sparks needs to be recognized for his efforts with the SIU cross-country team. He led the men’s team to their second straight MVC championship and helped junior Jeff Schirmer become the first SIU cross-country member to be named as an all-American since Chris Bunyon in 1984.
Sean McGahan: Baseball associate head coach Ken Henderson has stepped up into a larger role amid head coach Dan Callahan’s struggles with cancer. Saluki fans everywhere are rooting for both of them as the squad fights for an MVC conference run.
