There is no 'quarterback controversy' for Illinois State volleyball. According to Redbird head coach
Sharon Dingman, there hasn't been one since she arrived in the spring of 2000.
"When you have a player like
Becky Weber to lead your team and run your offense, you feel very confident about the setting position," said Dingman, who has settled on five of her six starters for Friday's 7 p.m. season opener against No. 26 Louisville in the first round of the Barker GMC Classic at Redbird Arena.
Weber will be joined by returning starters
Abby Lewis on the right side and
Megan O'Connell on the left.
Jenny Kabbes, back after a year off because of shoulder surgeries, opens at one middle spot. Sophomore
Staci Boyce has emerged opposite O'Connell on the left side. The final starting middle blockeris still a battle between junior
Christy Beyers, who was the starter at the beginning of last season, and senior
Megan Stephenson, who took Beyers' place after the Bradley transfer went down in the third match with a season-ending knee injury.
Weber, a returning first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference player, agrees with Dingman on her role on the team.
"I still have to be the leader and I've never been more confident," said Weber, who was among the Valley leaders in set assists, service aces and hitting percentage last year. "I still want to serve strong and play hard."
Despite a change in the rules which makes all games rally scored, Weber expects to keep hammering opponents with top-spinning serves which some might consider too 'high risk' for the 'new' game of college volleyball which gives the other team a point for a service error.
"I don't plan to change the way I serve," said Weber, who set the Illinois High School Association records for career service aces and most aces in a state tournament in 1997 while playing at Huntley High School. Weber led Huntley to the IHSA Class A Finals all four years.
For the first time in her career, Weber won't have 6-foot-2 Kendra Haselhorst--the Missouri Valley's all-time career hitting percentage leader--on the receiving end of her sets. But that, like most things on the court, bothers Weber not at all.
"We have more options to go to," said Weber. "I think our defense has come a long way and that will make a difference in how we play."
NOTES: Only Redbird volleyball patrons with season tickets or advance-purchase tickets will be admitted to the G-82 parking lot just east of Redbird Arena during this weekend's tournament, which takes place opposite intercity football in Hancock Stadium ...high-ranking opening opponents aren't new for the Redbirds, who opened the 1996 (Nebraska), 1997 (Kansas State), 1998 (Colorado State) and 1999 (Wisconsin) seasons against a ranked opponent ... ISU is 16-12 in opening matches since 1973 ...opposing teams in the tournament have a lot of 'familiarity' as Wisconsin-Milwaukee returns all six starters, Louisville returns five and Missouri-Kansas City has four back from 2000. Louisville and UWM both were NCAA Tournament qualifiers in 2000.
The Starters
Setter: Becky Weber, 5-10, Sr., Union, Ill.
Middle: Jenny Kabbes, 6-0, Jr., Normal, Ill.
Left Side: Staci Boyce, 5-10, So., Lockport, Ill.
Right Side: Abby Lewis, 5-10, Sr., Normal, Ill.
Middle: Christy Beyers, 6-3, Jr., Shelbyville, Ill. or
Megan Stephenson, 5-10, Sr., Jeffersonville, Ind.
Left Side: Megan O'Connell, 6-4, Jr., Springfield, Ill.
