Maybe the best news for head coach Sharon Dingman and the Illinois State volleyball team is that the 2004 season opener wont be like 2003even though the opponent, Illinois, is the same. The 19th-ranked Illini and Redbirds meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Huff Hall on the Illinois campus.
A year ago, Lisa Argabright, Shelly OBryan and Melissa Vandrey combined for 41 of Illinois 71 kills in a 29-31, 30-27, 31-29, 30-24 Illinois victory at Redbird Arena. That wont happen this year because Argabright, OBryan and Vandrey all have finished their eligibility, but Illini coach Don Hardin still starts with one of the Big Tens premiere setters in senior Erin Virtue.
Dingman has a healthy respect for Virtue, who was a 2003 honorable mention all-American in her first year as the regular Illinois setter.
What we saw a year ago (at Redbird Arena) was only the beginning of her setting career at Illinois, said Dingman, whos team finished 19-14 last year after a 5-10 start. She continued to get better as the season progressed and the better she got, the better Illinois played.
Virtue might have some new hitters around her, but the respect for Illinois continues. The Illini, 26-7 a year ago, advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. They are a top 20 team again. Like Illinois State, the Illini have consistently drawn wellover the past 10 years, ISU is No. 5 in the nation in home attendance and Illinois is No. 10.
This is a great way to start the season, said Dingman. This is a great rivalry because were close (just 55 miles separate the two campuses) and well see a lot of (Redbird) red in the stands. Both teams draw exceptionally well and Illinois is in the Top 20 again. This will be a challenge for us, but a good one and a fun one.
Dingman has four starters back in their same positions as last year, led by senior setter Kelly Rikli. Both left-side hitters return with sophomore Savannah Knowles the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year going opposite junior all-conference selection Laura Doornbos. Emily Kabbes, a first-team all-Valley choice in 2003, starts in the middle for Illinois State.
Its the second year in a row and the sixth time in 32 years of recorded volleyball history that the Redbirds have opened against Illinois, the first of five Redbird non-conference opponents that won 20 or more matches a year ago. The others are Western Kentucky (28-7), Pittsburgh (26-6), Northern Illinois (20-11) and Notre Dame (23-7).
ISU opens its home season at 7 p.m. Friday against Denver in the 2004 Barker GMC Classic at Redbird Arena. The ISU-Denver match follows Iowa vs. Wright State, and all four teams play twice on Saturday as well.
NOTE: The first weekly media conference of the season begins with football and coach Denver Johnson at noon, Tuesday (Aug. 31) in the Kaufman Football Building. Coach Sharon Dingman and senior Amber Rogers follow Johnson at approximately 12:30 p.m.
