Illinois State's freshman hitters--Savannah Knowles and Maura McCarthy--took center stage for the Redbirds, but mid-game rallies led Wichita State to a 30-28, 30-20, 27-30, 30-26 win over Illinois State Friday in a Missouri Valley Conference match at the new Charles Koch Arena.
The Redbirds, 11-11 overall, 4-6 in the Missouri Valley, got 14 kills from Knowles and a career-high 13 from McCarthy, but that wasn't enough to extend Illinois State's six-match winning streak. WSU out-hit the 'Birds .331 to .236, out-dug ISU 50-33 and out-aced the Redbirds 14-3 for the match.
Redbird coach Sharon Dingman saw the difference on the stat sheet.
"They beat us in every statistical category," said Dingman. "Our outsides did a great job of hitting the ball and (setter) Kelly (Rikli) recognized that and got them the ball, but it came down to game four and we were within a point and got aced. Wichita State took advantage of its opportunities and we didn't."
Knowles agreed.
"The difference was that, on defense, we didn't communicate, didn't read well and we all struggled," said Knowles, ISU's kill leader during its 6-1 spurt in recent weeks. "We weren't aggressive."
Illinois State led 8-4 in game one befoer a 10-2 Shocker rally put the home team in front to stay, eventually leading 27-20. ISU threatened with five late service points by Staci Boyce, but the comeback fell short.
Game two was all WSU as the 'Birds managed just two digs and couldn't stop middles Jen Ray and Elizabeth Meyers.
Illinois State ran aground in nearly the exact same spot in game two, leading 11-10 before a 5-0 Shocker spurt got WSU the lead for good. Late kills by Ray and Sara Younes helped Wichita State hold-off a late Redbird rally.
Despite eight kills by Younes, the Redbird balanced hitting in game three allowed ISU to keep the match alive. WSU rebounded from a 28-20 deficit to come within 29-27, but McCarthy's game-point kill forced game four.
The 'Birds were tied a 21-21 in game four when a pair of Cori Meyer service aces enabled the Shocks to take the lead. ISU used an Emily Kabbes kill and a Knowles service ace to earn a 24-24 tie but the 'Birds didn't have a finishing kick.
Laura Doornbos, out five matches with an ankle sprain, saw limited action in the final three games and is not expected to start on Satuday when the Redbirds continue their road trip against 18-3 Southwest Missouri State.
