The hits just keep on coming for setter Kelly Rikli and the Illinois State offense as the 'Birds hammered Creighton 30-25, 30-27, 30-24 in a Missouri Valley Conference volleyball match Saturday at Omaha South High School.
Rikli had 42 set assists, 6 kills and 6 digs to go with Staci Boyce's 16 kills, 13 by Jenny Kabbes and 10 by Erin Jones to help secure the redbidrs' fourth straight win. Jones added 12 digs and 3 service aces. Rikli also had more than 40 relatives from Nebraska and Colorado on hand to watch.
"I expected about 40, but it was closer to 50 who showed up," said Rikli. "A bunch showed up unexpectedly."
The Rikli fans had a lot to cheer for. Illinois State's offense has been at the top of the charts lately, averaging 18.71 kills per game during its current four-match winning streak, a 33 percent increase over the first 12 matches of the season. That average was bolstered Saturday as the 'Birsd had a 57-34 advantage in kills for the match.
Redbird coach Sharon Dingman said the offense was more of the same.
"Our offense is certainly gonig great right now," said Dingman. "Kelly is making good decisions and setting the ball very well. Again tonight we came out wanting our hitters to be physical and we did that."
Rikli agreed.
"Everyone is contributing," said Rikli. "Right now, I want to set the hot hitter and everyone is the hot hitter. Boyce has become a go-to hitter. She has proven herself. Really, my whole front row is hot right now."
Jones had 5 kills in game one to help the Redbirds earn a 15-8 lead and keep Creighton from getting close. The Jays took advantage of 11 ISU hitting errors in game two to lead by as many as five points before the Redbirds got back into it. The score was tied 10 times, the last at 27-27, before Rikli's kill started ISU to the three points it needed to go ahead 2-0 in the match.
Laura Doornbos contributed 4 key kills in game three to help Illinois State get ahead 9-4 and never let Creighton, now 1-15 overall, 1-8 in the Valley, threaten.
The win puts the Redbirds, 8-8 overall, 5-4 in the Valley, at .500 overall for the first time snice the second week of the season and gives Illinois State a 5-4 record for the first half of the Valley season. The Redbirds, the only Valley team to appear in all 20 league tournaments, never had a league regular-season conference record under .500. Since the Valley began double round-robin play in 1992, Illinois State has been over .500 for each half of each season.
Two years ago, a Redbird win at Creighton completed a four-match winning streak. This year's win in Omaha gives Illinois State its longest win streak since that last victory at Creighton.
