The College Sports Television Network (CSTV) has made Illinois State volleyball part of its plans for a 2003 match of the week telecast called Sunday Night Spike. Illinois States Sept. 21 match at Northern Iowa will be the third of the 13-week series of live broadcasts over CSTV, which has a potential audience of 110 million.
The Missouri Valley Conference match will have a 6 p.m. starting time and was rescheduled from the previous night.
Either the Panthers or the Redbirds have won or shared each of the last 19 conference titles and they rank No. 1 and No. 2 in all-time conference match victories, so its easy to see how CSTV made its choice. The Panthers will have a second appearance Nov. 2 when UNI plays at Nebraska.
Illinois State coach Sharon Dingman believes CSTVs selection of the match-up says plenty about Illinois State and Northern Iowa volleyball.
Its a reflection of the rivalry we have with Northern Iowa and the strength and tradition of both programs that we have merited a national game of the week appearance, said Dingman. We also think its a great opportunity to showcase the strength of the Missouri Valley Conference and were proud to be able to represent our conference on national TV.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) is a presenting sponsor and Dingman, an AVCA leader during her coaching career, sees the potential for CSTV and college volleyball growing together.
A national broadcast game of the week is something the AVCA has worked toward for years, said Dingman. Were pleased that it is happening now. Everyone saw how college basketballs popularity rose with the start and the growth of ESPN. CSTV and college volleyball could do the same thing.
The televised match on CSTV is another notch in Illinois State volleyballs substantial electronic media belt. The Birds will have more than a dozen matches broadcast live on AM 1230, WJBC, the flagship station of the Redbird radio network, and other matches webcast on wjbc.com.
Our relationship with WJBC is fantastic, said Dingman. Our fans really appreciate the wonderful job they do.. Their coverage of volleyball has been innovative.
The Redbirds, who begin practice Aug. 6, start the 2003 season at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 against intrastate rival Illinois at Redbird Arena in the opening round of the Barker GMC Classic. The tournament continues the next day with the Birds meeting former Redbird star player Jolene Jordan Hoovers Clemson team at noon and former NCAA Champion Nebraska at 7 p.m.
College Sports Televisions
Sunday Night Spike 2003 (all times ET)
Sept. 7 6 p.m. Florida at Stanford
Sept. 14 6 p.m. Pepperdine at Pacific
Sept. 21 7 p.m. Illinois State at Northern Iowa
Sept. 28 4 p.m. Hawai'i at Santa Clara
Oct. 5 6 p.m. Nevada at Hawai'i
Oct. 12 6 p.m. Sacramento State at Eastern Washington
Oct. 19 6 p.m. Texas at Kansas State
Oct. 26 4 p.m. Santa Clara at Pepperdine
Oct. 26 6 p.m. Utah at Colorado State
Nov. 2 6 p.m. Northern Iowa at Nebraska
Nov. 9 6 p.m. Miami (Fla.) at Notre Dame
Nov. 16 6 p.m. Best of Sunday Night Spike
Nov. 23 6 p.m. WAC Tournament Championship
