From the Dawg Pound

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[By Jim "Mr. Saluki" Beers

Salukis are tied for 1st in MVC. The # 21 Salukis beat # 19 Illinois State two weeks ago and # 15 Northern Iowa last weekend to improve to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The win by SIU and loss by Illinois State to South Dakota State forced a three-way tie for 1st place in the MVC. SIU, Northern Iowa and Illinois State are now knotted up with 2-1 MVC records.

Salukis move up in national rankings. SIU is now ranked # 15 in the NCAA Coaches Poll and # 17 in the Sports Network Poll. No. Dakota State comes in at # 14 in the Coaches Poll and # 15 in the Sports Network Poll while Northern Iowa is now ranked # 24 in the Coaches Poll and # 22 in the Sports Network Poll. Three MVC teams are now ranked in the Sports Network Poll and Western Illinois University was ranked # 23 in the Coaches Poll. SEMO moved up from # 27 to # 20 in the Coaches Poll.

Salukis beat Panthers in overtime Homecoming game, 45-38. Southern Illinois fought hard to overcome a late game, 38-31 deficit and tied the game, 38-38, on a 3-yard Chris Dieker touchdown run with only 1:11 to play. SIU held UNI down the stretch when it counted to send the game into overtime.

In overtime the Dawgs scored a touchdown on a 7-yard pass from quarterback Chris Dieker to Jeff Evans to give SIU a 44-38 lead. Kyle Dougherty kicked the extra point to put SIU up, 45-38. Five plays later the Dawgs had held the Panthers scoreless and SIU won a nail-biter on Homecoming.

SIU recorded 414 total yards of offense. Of those, 329 were in the air as Chris Dieker completed 20-of-27 passes and orchestrated a potent air attack throughout the afternoon.

Emily Toennies Named MVC Cross Country Athlete of the Week. Toennies placed 2nd at the Eastern Illinois Panther Open with her time of 18:05 in the 6K race. She is a senior from New Baden, Il.

Football breaks all-time MVFC Top-25 streak. Last week marked the 97th consecutive week that SIU was ranked in the Top-25 for NCAA Football Championship Sub Division. The Saluki's streak began in 2003 and with the recent ranking broke Northern Iowa's streak of 96 weeks.

Volleyball beats Indiana State and Illinois State to improve to 12-5, 3-4 MVC. In a fight to the finish SIU defeated the Lady Sycamores, 23-25, 28-30, 25-15, 25-21 and 15-9. With the win SIU improved to 11-5 overall and 2-4 in the MVC. Three Salukis recorded double-doubles. Rachel Brown posted a career-high 63 assists and 17 digs. Jennifer Berwanger had 13 kills and 14 digs while Alicia Johnson recorded 11 kills and 28 digs.

Against the Lady Redbirds of Illinois State the Salukis won, 28-26, 25-22, 25-27 and 25-15 to improve to 12-5 overall and 3-4 in the MVC. The victory broke a 23-match losing steak at Davies Gym at SIU dating back to 1981.

Jennifer Berwanger accomplished her 50th double-double of her career wit a match-high 23 kills and 17 digs. Libero Lauren Blumhorst posted a team-high 26 digs on defense. Alycia Mayes and Jessica Whitehead recorded teamed up to chip in 12 and 11 kills respectively. Rachel Brown did an excellent job of setting the ball with 47 assists. Alicia Johnson and Bailey Yeager added 18 digs apiece.

Dunbar named State Farm MVC Cross Country Athlete of the Week. Dan Dunbar of SIU was named MVC Cross Country Athlete of the Week Oct. 5. He placed 13th out of 323 runners at the Men's 8K race at the prestigious Greater Louisville Classic. He turned in a time of 24:01.29 which helped him earn his second-straight MVC honor. SIU finished 6th as a team behind Dunbar's lead.

Pickard honored as MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week. For the week of Oct. 11 Pickard anchored the offensive line that scored 45 points against Northern Iowa on Homecoming weekend. SIU recorded 414 yards of total offense and 329 from the air. With Pickard's protection the Salukis threw for over 300 yards.

Football Salukis fall to South Dakota State, 31-10 on Family Weekend. The Dawgs were out of sort from the beginning as starting quarterback, Chris Dieker, was on the bench the first half with disciplinary troubles. The loss gave SIU a big hit to their playoff hopes as they fell to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the MVFC.

SIU lost three-straight games weeks ago then seemed to bounce back winning two-in-a-row against # 19 Illinois State and # 15 No. Iowa. The loss to the Jackrabbits of So. Dakota State was most disappointing to both SIU Coach Dale Lennon and Saluki fans who had gathered on the campus of SIU to celebrate Family Weekend.

SIU trailed 7-0 in the second quarter when SDSU cornerback Cole Brodie intercepted a pass and ran 87 yards for a touchdown. With just 1:57 to lay in the first half SDSU wide receiver Thomas O'Brien scored on a eight yards to make the score 13-0. Kicker Kyle Harris added the extra point each to make the score SDSU 14- SIU 0. SIU did score before the halftime buzzer with a Kyle Dougherty 38-yard field goal and the half ended, 14-3, SDSU.

In the third quarter SDSU scored again on a 1-yard plunge by SDSU's Kyle Minett giving the Jackrabbits six points. Peter Reifenrath added the extra point and SDSU led, 21-3. Minett scored again in the fourth quarter at the 14:52 mark from 22 yards out. Reifenrath added the extra point to give SDSU a 28-3 lead.

With just 8:48 to go SDSU scored for their final time as Reifenrath connected on a 35-yard field goal. SDSU led, 31-3 at that point. Late in the game Chris Dieker came in the game and SIU managed to score a touchdown against the Jackrabbit's third string defense on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Joe Allaria. Dougherty added the extra point and SIU trailed, 31-10. SIU had other chances late in the quarter but it was too little to late and SDSU won the game to improve to 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the MVFC. SIU dropped to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the MVFC.