Round Two. While it's not boxing and there's no bell to signify the start, the Missouri Valley Conference begins its second round of regular-season league volleyball play with Friday's matches, and Illinois State, 10-7 overall, 7-2 in the Valley, begins the nine-match set with a road contest Evansville. On the same trip, ISU plays Saturday at Southern Illinois.
Evansville, 13-9, 6-3 in the Valley, is the league's most improved team having already won one more league match than it did last season. The Aces have a strong attack, with Jessica Kiefer, Ladi Iya and Julie Groves all averaging over three kills per game. Groves recently surpassed Illinois State Hall of Famer Chris Rehor-Federico as the Valley's all-time career dig leader.
SIU, 8-12, 1-8, is winless on the road, but 4-3 in Davies Gym. Veteran coach Sonya Locke has the league's youngest team--nine freshmen and sophomores among her top 12 players. Sophomore Kristie Kemner is the Saluki kill leader.
Redbird head coach Sharon Dingman, whose next win will be the 200th of her 10-year career as a college head coach, believes execution and adjustment become more important when teams play a second time.
"The second time around, we all know each other's tendencies," said Dingman. "So, you have to be able to execute. "
Dingman said volleyball is becoming like football when it comes to game plans.
"Certainly, we will have a plan going in," said Dingman, "but being able to execute and make adjustments is important. It's just like a football team; you have to be able to execute the game plan--and be able to make adjustments--at key points of the contest and at the end of games."
In close games, Dingman believes the adjustments become even more critical. During the Redbirds' recent four-match homestand, nine of 14 games were decided by four points or less; six of those by the minimum of two points.
"When you get to the end of a game, often it's the team that can make the last adjustment that wins," said Dingman.
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