Erin Jones broke a three-game record with 24 kills to lead Illinois State to a 30-20, 36-34, 30-27 win over a scrappy Southern Illinois team Friday in Missouri Valley Conference volleyball at Redbird Arena.
Every match Im very focused, said Jones. I have tunnel vision right now when it comes to volleyball. I always try to do my part and tonight I guess I did a little extra. It was all about the competition tonight. We went back and forth all night fighting for every point and that makes the win even better.
The Redbirds, 9-8 overall, 6-4 in the Valley, faced down game point four times in game two before winning with the highest point total ever by a Redbird team. SIUs final serve for game point came at 34-33, but Jones kept the Redbirds alive with her ninth kill of the game. Kill No. 10 followed to give ISU a 35-34 lead, then setter Kelly Rikli finished the game with a service ace.
In game one, SIU was within two at 19-17, when the Redbirds went on a 6-0 run to jump-start an 11-3 finish. Jones had nine kills in that game.
Illinois State got 11 kills apiece from Staci Boyce and Jenny Kabbes, while Kabbes also finished with 12 digs on the match.
Redbird coach Sharon Dingman saluted Jones efforts.
Erins taking a lot of responsibility for this team, said Dingman. Really, this wasnt an unusual performance for her. Shes been playing like that every day in practice and in the games as well.
SIU coach Sonya Locke thought her team could have played better, but Jones was a challenge.
Obviously, Erin Jones had a career night tonight, said Locke. She was a difference, but I dont think we played as hard as we could have. Something was missing. Defensively, we were unorganized and things didnt click.
The Salukis, 15-7 overall, 6-4 in the Valley, got 16 kills from Kristi Kemner and 10 from Tara Cains, but still dropped their 24th straight match to the Redbirds.
Kemner agreed her team could have played better.
We just didnt get our jobs done tonight, said Kemner. There is more to the game then just bump-set-hit, there are emotions involved as well. Tonight, we lost all of the mental battles.
The Redbirds put their five-match win streak on the line tomorrow for a home match against the Aces from Evansville.
