It's like falling off a bicycle to Sharon Dingman. Her team fell and now she wants it to get up and get back on as fast as possible.
The Illinois State University head volleyball coach thinks the chance to play Saturday after Tuesday's loss at Wisconsin-Milwaukee is what her team needs most.
"That's one of the great things about sports," said Dingman, whose Redbirds are 6-4 overall, 3-1 in the Missouri Valley heading into a 7 p.m. Saturday match at Indiana State. "This team just needs to play again to get rid of that (bad) feeling from Tuesday night. We're looking forward to it."
The Sycamores are 5-8 overall, 1-3 in the Valley and have been sliding lately, losing six of their last eight matches after a 3-1 start. Dingman is concerned about the athletic ability Indiana State presents up front with outside hitter Cheryl Berg and quick middle blocker Megan Lynch. But the biggest Sycamore loss of late was Staci Shipley's season-ending knee injury.
"We have struggled against athletic outside hitters," said Dingman, referring specifically to Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "Cheryl Berg clearly fills that bill. She challenges people."
Dingman, who has lost middle blockers Jenny Kabbes and Christy Beyers for the season, sympathizes with Indiana State coach Jim Bertoli having to deal with Shipley's injury.
"That can affect your team's confidence," said Dingman. "Staci Shipley was a big weapon for them; one of their top offensive players and a team leader."
The setting match-up will be a dual of former club volleyball teammates, Illinois State's Becky Weber and Indiana State's Megan Mirs, both juniors. They played club ball for Sky High in Chicago's Northern Suburbs.
Mirs is a threat to hit at any time. In 1999, she led all Valley setters with 1.92 kills per game.
"Mirs is a nice setter who has a bag of tricks," said Dingman. "Our focus will have to be defending them."
The ISU-ISU clash is the second of four straight road matches for the 'Birds. After next weekend's conference trip to Southwest Missouri State and Wichita State, ISU plays four in a row and nine of its final 14 regular-season matches in Redbird Arena.
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