Despite 18 kills by Staci Boyce and a career-high 22 digs by Kelly Rikli, Erin Murphy led Southwest Missouri State past Illinois State 30-25, 30-24, 25-30, 30-26 in a Missouri Valley Conference volleyball showdown Friday at the Hammons Student Center.
Murphy collected eight of her game-high 23 kills in game two, and added 22 digs to lead the Bears. SMS becomes 'bookends' to the Redbirds six-match winning streak; SMS was the last team to beat the Redbirds Sept. 26 in Redbird Arena. They literally dug Illinois State's grave with a 93-79 dig advantage for the match, including 31-22 in game two. The Bears' 93 digs were the most against the 'Birds this season.
SMS, 16-4 overall, 10-1 in the Valley, out-hit the 'Birds .210 to .184 even though the Bears had just one more kill for the match. Paige White also had a career-high dig total of 18 for Illinois State.
The Redbirds, 10-9, 7-5, recovered from error-filled games one and two--SMS collected six of it slast nine points in the first game on ISU hitting or serving errors. But the 'Birds were a different team in games three and four, according to coach Sharon Dingman.
"We didn't start well," said Dingman. "We didn't respond to the scouting report. But I'm proud of how we played in games three and four. We played like we wanted to go five (games)."
Jones and Boyce got hot--each had seven kills--and the Redbird defense got tougher in game three. A Boyce service ace gave the Redbirds their biggest lead at 25-17. ISU staved off SMS after that.
After opening game four with a pair of kills, Jones went to the service line and finished a 6-0 ISU run with an ace to put the 'Birds up 9-3. SMS closed within 9-6 and the teams alternated the next 17 points.
The Bears caught the 'Birds at 20-20 on a Murphy smash off the block. ISU scored three straight from a 21-21 tie thanks to back-to-back blocks by Laura Doornbos and an unreturnable serve from Emily Kabbes. SMS had its own answer. Some more outstanding digs of hard Redbird swings shifted momentum SMS' way for a 25-24 lead. ISU picked up back-to-back point on kills by Boyce and Jenny Kabbes to lead 26-25, but the Bears caught the momentum again behind two Murphy kills and finished the match.
Illinois State plays another Valley foe on the road Saturday--Wichita State--which beat the 'Birds in Redbird Arena earlier this season. Dingman is looking for a better beginning agianst the Shockers, who beat Indiana State in four games Thursday.
"We have to start faster and stronger," said Dingman. "We have to play with more emotion early in the match."
