History, the home-court advantage and better health are three good reasons for the Illinois State volleyball team to have confidence that a strong stretch run is on the horizon for a Redbird volleyball team looking to maintain its record as the only Missouri Valley Conference team to qualify for every league tournament over the past 22 seasons. Illinois State starts five home matches in its final seven with a 7 p.m. match Saturday against Indiana State.
The record book shows that Illinois State has an overwhelming series advantage over six of their final seven opponents: 34-4 over Indiana State, 19-0 over Evansville, 50-5 over Southern Illinois, 17-3 over Creighton, 37-5 over Drake and 29-6 over Bradley. The only exception is Northern Iowas 27-15 all-time advantage over Illinois State.
The Redbirds, 11-13 overall, 4-7 in the Valley, have fared well at Redbird Arena over its 15 seasons as the home of Illinois State volleyball. ISU is 148-48 overall, 95-21 in regular-season league play at Redbird Arena. Only the Drake and Creighton matches are on the road.
The best thing about the health issues is that the major ones have passed. Top hitters Laura Doornbos, Emily Kabbes and Staci Boyce appear recovered from the injuries and ailments which have limited their play and performance. Junior setter Kelly Rikli has gone through adjustments and changes with hitters but continues to lead the team as she joins an elite class of Redbird setters. At Notre Dame, Rikli became just the fifth Illinois State player to record 2,500 career set assists.
Redbird coach Sharon Dingman is glad her group is coming together for a stretch run.
We are ready to go. We have good energy right now, said Dingman, who thought her team played tight during Tuesdays loss at No. 14 Notre Dame. We need to play relaxed and execute what we do well.
The Birds start a string of three straight home matches with Indiana State, 10-10, 5-6, the team right in front of them in the standings. The five-game Sycamore win Oct. 4 in Terre Haute was the last of five straight Illinois State losses. A home-team win Saturday puts the Birds and Sycamores even, and, projecting that scenario to the end of the season, a Redbird win in three or four games gives Illinois State the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage for seeding in the State Farm-Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
Kylie Osbornes 27 kills led Indiana States win in Terre Haute and Dingman respects the Sycamores senior outside hitter.
Kylie is having an all-conference kind of year, said Dingman. Their middles gave us problems last time as well.
Ultimately, though, Dingman thinks the focus should be on focusing.
All weve talked about the last couple of days is that you have to put what is behind you, behind you and focus on one match at a time, one game at a time and one play at a time, said Dingman. Im confident we can do that.
The Birds stay home for next week as well, playing Evansville Nov. 7 and Southern Illinois Nov. 8 at Redbird Arena.
