Sharon Dingman believes that the pre-conference schedule for her Illinois State University volleyball team should be challenging. How her team meets those challenges impacts how she feels about starting the league season and, going into this weekends Missouri Valley Conference start Friday at Drake and Saturday at Creighton.
Of particular concern to Dingman was the last-minute scheduling of back-to-back matches in the recent Western Kentucky Invitational. The Redbirds Saturday schedule featured matches at noon and 3 p.m. Illinois State won both matches 3-0 in relatively convincing style, with the South Florida match resulting in an all-time team hitting percentage record, .542 for a match.
I am so proud of this team, said Dingman. The schedule (at Western Kentucky) was so challenging with back-to-back matches, but we played very well in the first (South Florida) and, even though we struggled and got a little tired in the second, we were down six points late in the second game and fought back to win.
Junior Emily Kabbes, this weeks Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, and freshman Kari Staehlin, last weeks Valley Freshman of the Week, give the Redbirds a pair of middles with impressive hitting credentials. While she respects their contributions, Dingman is impressed by how the ball gets to Kabbes and Staehlinstarting with passing and digging and continuing with Kelly Riklis sets.
Emily and Kari are hitting at incredible percentages and we got nine kills per game out of our middles last weekend, said Dingman. But theres a lot going on to get them those opportunities. Weve improved our passing and digging to create those opportunities.
More experience than a year ago is another factor for ISU, which is 0-3 in league openers since 2000.
Our confidence is, in part, from being a year older, said Dingman. Our team stays composed when we get behind.
Illinois States 16.25 kills per game lead the conference, with Creighton, 6-1, second at 16.00. Although Drake, 2-5, is last in the league in kills per game, the Bulldogs are second in hitting percentage at .285. So the offense figures to be strong this weekend.
While Drake has struggled this season, Creighton opened plenty of eyes by winning Missouris tournament last weekend in Columbia. The Jays offense features skilled hitting from Leah Retzlaff, Ashley Williams and freshman Carolyn Decker.
The Valley is tough; well have to be prepared, said Dingman. We want to keep building on the things we are doing well.
After the league openers at Drake and Creighton, the Redbirds return home for a Sept. 24 match with Bradley and a Sept. 25 meeting with Northern Iowa, both at 7 p.m. in Redbird Arena.
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