With a Redbird volleyball win on Saturday, a tripleheader could evolve into a quadrupleheader of live coverage of Illinois State sports Saturday on WJBC (1230 AM) radio, the flagship station of the Redbird Radio Network.
With times set for the 2002 State Farm-Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Tournament in Peoria, the station decided to add play-by-play coverage of the Redbird womens basketball teams season opener at Western Michigan.
The big sports day begins at 10 a.m. with the Redbird volleyball team playing Southern Illinois in the Valley Tourney. Coach Sharon Dingmans team is the No. 6 seed and Southern is No. 3, but the Redbirds won both meetings during the regular season. WJBC Program Director R.C. McBride and former Missouri Valley Most Valuable Player Kendra Haselhorst will be on the call for Redbird volleyball.
Coach Jenny Yopp begins her fourth season at the helm of Redbird womens basketball with 12:45 p.m. pregame coverage from Kalamazoo. Tim Fisher, assistant sports director and host of WJBCs nightly Talk Sports program, calls the play-by-play for the Redbirds vs. Western Michigan. Legendary former Illinois State head coach Jill Hutchison provides commentary.
If the Redbird volleyball team wins its morning match, Illinois State meets No. 2 seed Southwest Missouri State later in the afternoon. McBride and Haselhorst will cover that match starting with a 4:45 p.m. pregame show.
The grand finale of the sports day features the 2002-03 debut of regular-season mens basketball, with coach Tom Richardsons team taking on Utah State--one of the winningest teams in college basketball over the past three seasons--in Redbird Arena. WJBC Sports Director John Fitzgerald makes his regular-season basketball debut as play-by-play announcer for the Redbird Radio Network. He will team with veteran analyst Mike Matthews.
Mens basketball overage begins at 6:30 p.m., with a 7:05 p.m. tipoff.
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WJBC/Redbird Radio Schedule for Saturday, Nov. 23
Time Sport Event Talent
10 a.m. Redbird Volleyball Illinois State vs. Southern Illinois R.C. McBride & Kendra Haselhorst
12:45 p.m. Redbird Womens Basketball Illinois State at Western Michigan Tim Fisher & Jill Hutchison
4:45 p.m. Redbird Volleyball Illinois State vs. SMS * R.C. McBride & Kendra Haselhorst
6:30 p.m. Redbird Mens Basketball Utah State at Illinois State John Fitzgerald & Mike Matthews
* if the Redbirds win earlier in the day.
