After a Laura Doornbos kill gave the Red team a 26-25 lead in the third game of a four-game Illinois State University volleyball team intrasquad match on Saturday, freshman middle blocker Kari Staehlin stepped to the service line, served a rope-like ace near the end line, then scored another ace on a tape-hugging serve which dropped on the White side of the line to put her team up 28-25. Just for good measure, Staehlin rifled home game point of the 30-27 decision with a back-row attack.
Staehlin was on the winning team in all four games, even though several Redbirds changed sides for games three and four after the Red team won the first two games, 33-31 and 30-22. It was the only public tune-up for the Redbirds before the Sept. 1 opener at Illinois, quickly followed by the 2004 Barker-GMC Classic Sept. 3-4 at Redbird Arena.
The more than 250 fans in attendance werent surprised at Doornbos 23 kills and Emily Kabbes 19. But the 6-foot-2 Staehlin opened some eyes with 13 kills and three aces, especially since her status coming into preseason camp was questionable because of a back injury which kept her out of action from March to July.
Redbird coach Sharon Dingman has seen the Tinley Park, Ill., native perform in practice and was pleased, but not surprised.
Kari was the same today as she has been in practice, said Dingman. She is learning things every day, particularly on defense. But she brings an added dimension to our offense and were excited about that.
Although it was Staehlins first appearance before an Illinois State volleyball crowd, she admitted that her focus techniques dont allow her to listen to the crowd reaction.
Its exciting to play here (at Redbird Arena), said Staehlin, a 2004 Victor J. Andrew High School graduate. But, after missing so much time, its exciting to play anywhere. I havent had much experience in the back row.
Staehlin had 10 of her kills in the first two games, but her block with Savannah Knowles, the returning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, gave the Red Team a 32-31 leadits firstin game one. A Maura McCarthy diving dig set up Knowles for the game-winning kill. Early White Team service errors and three Lindley McDavid kills helped the Red Team build a 14-5 lead in game two.
After Staehlins heroics in game three, senior setter Kelly Rikli had three kills in the fourth game, which the veteran-laden Red team won 15-8.
Dingman thought her team showed better serve receive on both sides of the net than she had seen in practice. The .233 hitting percentage during the four games was a reflection of good passing producing strong offense.
Serve receive is something we havent been doing well, but our passers stepped up tonight, said Dingman.
