The credit card commercial pattern fits. Undefeated in the Missouri Valley Conference, on a nine-match win streak and earning votes in the USA Today/CSTV Top 25 volleyball poll all signs of respect for Illinois State volleyball. According to Redbird coach Sharon Dingman, the confidence to be prepared to play on the road against opponents like SMS and league-leader Wichita State priceless.
Its like the commercial says, said Dingman, whose 12-2 Redbirds play Friday at SMS and Saturday at Wichita State. Confidence, its priceless. I think our team is confident. Our players are responding well. Were undefeated in the Valley. Wichita State is undefeated. SMS is playing very well. Theres a target on our back. Lots of exciting things are happening.
SMS, 10-5 overall, 4-2 in the Missouri Valley, is coming off a four-game match at Northern Iowa that was so tight the Panthers needed 34 points to win game three and 36 points to win game four. UNI won 3-1, but SMS out-scored the Panthers 124-118 in the four games. SMSs other four lossesall in successioncame against three Top 25 teams in a tournament at Hawaii and a league-opener at Southern Illinois when the Bears were playing without top hitter Katie Werges.
Dingman, whose team is 5-0 in the Valley and has won its last 12 straight regular-season league matches, respects SMS, which is No. 19 in the nation in digs per game.
They are just an unbelievable digging team, said Dingman. They dig so many balls that its a challenge to hitters. They were struggling without Katie Werges, but now SMS is playing very well.
Wichita State alternates two setters in a 6-2 alignment to always have three hitters in the front row. Dingmans Birds and the Shockers, who are No. 21 in the nation in hitting percentage, have had some long and physical battles in recent years and the Redbird coach expects nothing different.
Wichita State is a big, physical, hard-hitting team, said Dingman. They are hitting over .300 against conference opponents and thats amazing. They are a mature team that competes very well.
While SMS and WSU have their national stat rankings, Illinois States 12-2 record and .857 winning percentage are tied for No. 20 in the nation with Florida. Only 12 teams have fewer than ISUs two losses.
It doesnt get easier for the Redbirds after the SMS-WSU trip. They play Wednesday at defending Big East Co-Champion Notre Dame before returning to Redbird Arena to play Southern Illinois and Evansville, and try to extend their home-court winning streak past its current 15 matches in a row. The Redbird home record is 17 set in 1996-97.
