After three straight matches against Top 20 teams could there be a breather in sight for Illinois States young volleyball team? Nope!
The Redbirds, 2-4 after losses to No. 12 Wisconsin, No. 16 Texas A&M and No. 1 Stanford over a five-day span, open the Missouri Valley Conference regular season this weekend at home against Bradley (7 p.m. Friday) and No. 7 Northern Iowa (7 p.m. Saturday). Both of those Valley teams were picked to finish ahead of the Redbirds in the preseason Valley poll. The coaches ballots indicated that Northern Iowa is likely to win its fifth straight league title and that Bradley would repeat its third-place finish of 2001. The Birds were picked fourth.
Does any of that have Redbird head coach Sharon Dingman or her freshman-laden unit concerned? Same answer ... nope.
Were ready to start the Valley season, said Dingman. We think the schedule we have played has been good preparation for us. Weve learned that we can compete with those kinds of (nationally-ranked) teams. Weve proven we can compete ... now we want to prove we can win.
With senior Erin Jones, the teams dig and service ace leader, not likely to play at all this weekend while recovering from an illness, Dingman almost always has three freshmen on the floor and sometimes four. Does that lack of experience bother her?
No, because of the attitude and ability of our freshmen, said Dingman. We knew when we recruited them that they were talented volleyball players and talented athletes. What were finding out now is that they are exceptionally composed on the court. Thats a good thing.
They have produced, too. Emily Kabbes is the teams hitting percentage and block leader. Laura Doornbos has filled the starting spot on the right side all season. Ashley Grubb has stepped in ably for Jones. Kristin Vandrey has gone from walk-on to back-row starter in just over two weeks with the team. Lindley McDavid has made contributions as a middle blocker coming off the bench.
Despite that talent, isnt Dingman concerned about entering a Valley season against a league which she claims might be deeper than its been in a while?
The Valley is full of strong teams, said Dingman. Conference play brings a different mentality, but I think this team has been exposed to a lot of different challenges and situations. Im looking forward to seeing how we can do.
Bradley, 5-3, and Northern Iowa, 8-1, bring their own sets of challenges. The Braves, led by the power-hitting duo of Stephanie Behrns and Jenna Passman, have won all 12 games during their current four-match winning streak. Among the Bradley victims this year are Oklahoma from the Big XII and Iowa from the Big 10. Senior outside hitter Abby Davidson was an all-tournament selection as Bradley swept its own four-team classic last weekend to start the winning streak. All-conference setter Sam Hardwick has completed her Bradley career, but junior Amelie Rodrigue and freshman Ashley Vance have set well enough for Bradley to own a .246 team hitting percentage.
Either Illinois State or Northern Iowa has won or shared each of the last 18 regular-season league titles, so tradition makes ISU-UNI a big matchup. But the Panthers, who have beaten three nationally-ranked opponents during an eight-match win streak, are loaded with skill and experience this year. Reigning Valley Most Valuable Player Molly OBrien, senior outside hitter Kim Kester and junior setter Jill Arganbright all are returning first-team all-Valley selections. OBriens 4.61 kills, 1.84 digs and 1.03 blocks per game have helped UNI beat No. 7 UCLA, No. 8 Pepperdine and No. 20 Minnesota this season. The only Panther loss was to No. 1 Stanford in the State Farm Classic.
