Sharon Dingman believes a change of focus is good for her Illinois State University volleyball team. And it will get that Wednesday against perennial Mid-American Conference power Northern Illinois when the teams meet at 7 p.m. at Redbird Arena.
Dingman, the third-year Redbird coach, is direct about the teams reaction to the Redbirds, 4-8 overall 2-4 in the Missouri Valley, recent performances.
It was a disappointing weekend; nothing like we expected, said Dingman, whose team lost back-to-back league home matches to Wichita State and Southwest Missouri State over the weekend. The players will tell you that they are disappointed and frustrated. The good thing about that is that they have the opportunity to do something about it.
This is match No. 7 of a 10-match non-conference slate for Illinois State which could be one of the nations toughest. Northern Illinois eight wins are the fewest of those 10 teams, which began the week an aggregate 102-34, a .750 winning percentage. NIU, 8-5, has a new coach, ex-Loyola assistant Ray Gooden, but, like the Redbirds, a strong volleyball heritage which was formed under the leadership of former coaches Pete Waite (now at Wisconsin) and Todd Kress (now at Florida State).
Like several previous ISU non-conference opponents, NIU has a player coming home. Setter Jenny Rohren played at University High School from 1994-98, then three years at Valparaiso University before joining the Huskie program just this year. She is using her final year of eligibility as a graduate student at NIU after sitting out her final year at Valpo. Rohren sets a group of experienced hitters in the NIU offense, including seniors Jen Vonderhaar, Rena Widboom and Tenisha Wilkins in the NIU offense.
Northern has another good team and they are well coached, said Dingman. Its a great in-state rivalry and Ray Gooden will have his team prepared.
Dingman is pleased with her teams work since the weekend, especially senior captains Erin Jones and Jenny Kabbes.
Erin and Jenny have played a huge role in getting this team focused on looking ahead, said Dingman. Were working on a lot of things we know we have to do better.
Dingman is hoping the Northern Illinois match will help the Redbirds head back into the Valley with some momentum and confidence.
I like the way our schedule is right now. Its good to step away from conference play at this time and see if we cant get back on track, said Dingman, whose team plays a 2 p.m. matinee date against Missouri Valley foe Indiana State next.
