Illinois States Emily Kabbes, the only Missouri Valley Conference player among the league leaders in hitting percentage, blocks and service aces, earned First-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors for their efforts.
Also receiving honors from the Valley for Illinois State were junior setter Kelly Rikli and sophomore outside hitter Laura Doornbos, who earned second-team all-conference honors, and freshman outside hitter Savannah Knowles, a member of the six-player All-Freshman Team.
Kabbes, a sophomore middle blocker, leads the Redbirds in hitting percentage, points, aces and blocks. Lately, she has been hard to stop at the net, hitting nearly .400 as Illinois State has reeled-off seven straight victories heading into Fridays 2003 State Farm-Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
Rikli, a Highlands Ranch, Colo. native, is just two set assists from becoming just the second Illinois State player and the fifth in Valley history to reach 1,500 for a season. Marisa Brickley had 1,700 in 1996 anbd 1,594 in 1997 for Illinois State. Since Oct. 5, Illinois State is 13-3 and Rikli is a big reason why. Her team is hitting over .300 for that stretch and she has averaged better than 3.00 digs per game.
Doornbos leads Illinois State is kills and is bidding to be first sophomore in Redbird history to average above 4.00 kills per game for a season. For much of the season, the Bloomington native and Olympia High School graduates 27 kills against No. 18 Illinois were the leagues best for a match.
She was on the Valleys 2002 All-Freshman Team which this year includes Knowles, Illinois States star freshman outside hitter. Knowles is the only Valley freshman to average at least 2.5 kills and 2.0 digs per game and the Crystal Lake Central High School graduate hit league opponents for 3.07 kills and 2.46 digs per game. Knowles is the seventh Redbird player in 10 seasons to be recognized on the leagues all-rookie unit.
Illinois State, 18-13, takes on Indiana State, 14-14, at 12:30 p.m. Friday in the first round of the State Farm-Misouri Valley Conference Tournament riding the leagues best winning streak. No Redbird team has won more consecutive matches since the 1998 squad won nine straight in September and early October. Its the best November record for the Redbirds since the 1996 team went 8-0 in the 11th month on their way to a 29-8 record.
