With Notre Dame leading the nation in team blocking and Illinois State averaging close to 19 kills per game over its last eight matches, the volleyball used in Tuesdays 7 p.m. match between the Irish and the Redbirds at Redbird Arena could be caught between a block and a hard swing.
The Irish, 17-5 and averaging 3.79 team blocks per game, have been busy lately. Their match with Illinois State is the fifth in eight days, starting with Oct. 21 and 22 at No. 2 Hawaii (both losses), then a pair of Big East Conference wins over Pittsburgh (Friday) and Virginia Tech (Sunday). Notre Dame, ranked 25th nationally to start the season, has either been ranked or received votes in every weekly national poll this season.
Illinois State, 10-10, continues to have the only trio of hitters in the Missouri Valley Conference all averaging above 3.5 kills per game. Erin Jones (3.58), Jenny Kabbes (3.51) and Staci Boyce (3.51) give the Birds solid hitting. In the five-game loss at Wichita State, freshman outside hitter Laura Doornbos had her best match of her career with 17 kills, 12 digs, 6 blocks and 4 set assists--all career highs.
Notre Dame coach Debbie Brown has plenty of firepower of her own. Emily Loomis leads a group of five players all averaging at least two kills per game. With 1.64 blocks per game, Lauren Brewster leads the blocking.
Its a rivalry Redbird coach Sharon Dingman, a Northern Indiana native and long-time coaching friend with Brown, really enjoys.
Weve had such a great rivalry with Notre Dame, said Dingman. Its a great relationship as well as a rivalry. We know our fans will be excited; playing Notre Dame certainly gives them a lot to talk about.
The early-season Illinois State schedule has helped prepare for this match, according to Redbird freshman middle blocker Emily Kabbes.
Because we played some great teams earlier in the year, we know how to prepare for all kinds of competition, said Kabbes. We will be ready to compete.
The Redbirds want to bounce back from road losses at Southwest Missouri State and Wichita State over the weekend and get back on the roll which produced six straight victories before that road trip.
Redbird-Irish matches have usually been marathon affairs. Notre Dame has an 8-6 lead in the series, but seven of those 14 matches have gone the five-game limit, including last years battle at the Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center. Notre Dame won the first two games--the second by a 35-33 score--before the Birds bounced back to win games three and four. Notre Dame won the match 15-11 to extend its home-court winning streak to 20 matches. With an 11-0 home record this season, the Irish have won 31 straight at the Joyce ACC.
