Megan OConnell loves the challenge of meeting top opponents. Well, Illinois States leading hitter will get a lot of love this weekend as the Redbirds play three matches in the Miami Best Western Sycamore Inn Volleyball Classic at Oxford, Ohio.
The host Miami Redhawks, plus Big Ten stalwart Purdue and 21st-ranked South Carolina all have met Illinois State before -- in NCAA Tournament play. The Redbirds met Miami of Ohio in 1996, South Carolina in 1997 and Purdue in both the 1983 and 1985 NCAA Tournaments.
OConnell wasnt around Illinois State for any of that, but she appreciates the chance to play good teams.
Thats what our team wants, said OConnell, who is averaging 3.54 kills per game after the first weekend of the season. We want the challenge of playing good teams because thats an opportunity for us to show what we can do ... to show what our team can do.
The Birds had a shot against No. 26 Louisville in the opening match of the season but fell just short, losing games two and four both by 30-28 scores. Head coach
Sharon Dingman values that experience.
We came so close against Louisville, but didnt get the job done, said Dingman. But we showed we could be competitive with that caliber of teams. That will help us.
ISU opens the tournament at 6:30 p.m. Friday against Miami, where head coach Carolyn Condit has averaged nearly 22 wins per season over the past 15 years. The Birds, 2-1, meet Purdue at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, then meet the nationally-ranked 3-0 Gamecocks, who stunned Arizona State in Tempe last weekend, at 4 p.m. Purdues 0-3 record couldnt be more deceiving--coach Jeff Hulsmeyers Boilermakers played traditional powers Texas, Brigham Young and Washington last weekend in the Bank of America Classic in Seattle.
Dingman played two seasons at Purdue--one of her cherished highlights of that experience was beating Illinois State. Now, shes on the other side of that rivalry and appreciates what it can give to Illinois State.
We know what it means to play a Big Ten school, said Dingman. Its great competition and it helps your RPI and your chances to get into the NCAA Tournament.
Led by Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week
Becky Weber, the Birds are off to a strong hitting start (.221 as a team) and dominated opponents at the net with 2.92 blocks per game to opponents 1.65 while finishing second to Louisville in last weekends Barker GMC Classic at Redbird Arena.
Dingman used 14 different players in the three matches, something she wont hesitate to do again. Only four players saw action in all 13 games.
Were never afraid to substitute, said Dingman. In fact, we have the expectation that we will have a better team on the floor when we substitute.
Dingman will need a strong, deep team through the next five days because the Missouri Valley Conference season opens Tuesday at Indiana State.
