When
Sharon Dingman got the head volleyball coaching job at Illinois State, she saw potential ... and, to be fulfilled, that potential meant shoring-up the Redbird defense.
A bit more than half-way through her second season, her plan can be deemed successful because Illinois State is the only NCAA Division I volleyball team ranked among the nations top 20 in both digs per game and blocks per game. ISU, 11-8 overall, 7-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference, is No. 16 in digs and No. 20 in blocks according to this weeks NCAA statistics.
Although she admits working them hard defensively in the spring seasons of 2000 and 2001, Dingman passes the credit for the improvement on to the players.
Playing defense is tough in any sport, said Dingman. Digging demands that you keep your body low, be strong and be willing to hit the floor. Blocking is something players have to do all the time without being rewarded in the stats. A good team averages three blocks a game, but you have to block every time. Thats tough.
To Dingman, whose team takes a four-match Valley winning streak into a road trip which includes a Friday match at Southern Illinois and a Saturday match at Evansville, defense is as much attitude as execution, and she feels fortunate to have a defense-minded team leader in senior right-side hitter
Abby Lewis.
Abby has a defensive mentality, said Dingman. It is something other players see and respond to on the court. Abby is a fifth-year senior who is playing with a sense of urgency. She wants to get the job done now. Its fun to watch her play.
Lewis is a rare player who excells at both blocking and digging. In fact, if she can remain among the Valleys top 10 in digs (she is No. 1) and blocks (she is No. 9), Lewis will be the first player in 18 years of league history to finish in the leagues top 10 in both of those categories in the same season.
She has plenty of help. Middle blockers
Jenny Kabbes and
Staci Boyce both are among the leagues blocking leaders.
Erin Jones is right behind Lewis in Valley digs, while setter
Becky Weber just recently fell out of the Valleys top 10 in digs.
Dingman wants her team to maintain its defensive attitude against Southern Illinois (8-13, 3-8 in the Valley), a team with aspirations to join the six-team State Farm-Valley Tournament next month in Normal, and Evansville (4-17, 1-10), a team ready to do anything for a win.
Southern took us to five games at Redbird (Sept. 29) and they have to feel confident they can beat us at home, said Dingman. SIU could catch Indiana State for the No. 6 spot in the Valley Tournament with wins over the Birds and Sycamores this weekend.
Although the Birds have won all seven previous matches there, Evansvilles Carson Center is small, dark and generally a tough place on the visitors. Dingman also believes Aces head coach Mark Hardaway is willing and able to make changes to get his team going. including changing his leading hitters position. The Aces have lost seven straight.
We understand that Mark has had Jessica Kiefer hitting from the right side, said Dingman. Marks a good coach. If something isnt working, hell always find something else to try.
