Junior setter Becky Weber found an 'extra' hitter when she needed it while running the Illinois State University offense during Sunday's Redbird Arena scrimmage.
The 'extra' hitter was Becky Weber.
In addition to her 30 set assists and 14 digs in the four games played, Weber also had 9 kills in 22 attempts, narrowly missing a 'triple-double.'
New head coach Sharon Dingman likes it when setter Weber becomes hitter Weber.
"We've told her that as long as she leads the team in hitting percentage, she can hit as often as she wants," said Dingman, whose team begins regular-season play Friday against Montana in the IKON Husky Classic at the University of Connecticut.
Weber agreed.
"I love hitting," said Weber, who was No. 3 in the Missouri Valley in set assists last year and a second-team all-Valley selection. "Every chance I get I want to swing."
Weber also set some other players, including Kendra Haselhorst, who had seven of her match-high 17 kills in the fourth game, and Jackie Utz, the Illinois-Chicago transfer who had 12 kills. Both are seniors.
The teams changed sides game by game, with the White squad taking games one and two 15-9, 15-6 and the Red claiming games three and four, 17-15, 15-9.
Dingman was happy to put her team on display before some 350 fans in Redbird Arena.
"This had the feel of game conditions," said Dingman. "It's nice to work some nerves out and this had a match feel to it."
The White squad for the first two games could be the Redbird starting lineup on Friday. It included Weber, Haselhorst, Utz, sophomores Erin Jones and Megan O'Connell. The middle spot opposite Haselhorst--vacant because Jenny Kabbes will miss the season following shoulder surgery--is still open between sophomore Christy Beyers and junior Megan Stephenson.
Jones led all players with 16 digs, while B Corbin--who set for the team playing against Weber--added 14 digs. Assistant coach Jeni Jones, a former University of Florida star, played in the front row because the Redbirds have just three middle blockers on the squad.
The scrimmage was the Redbirds' only home-court open gym before their Sept. 22 home opener against Southern Illinois.
