Iowa, Wright State and Denvers volleyball programs will see a lot of action in this weekends Barker GMC Classic at Redbird Arena. Theyll see plenty of Red in the stands as well, thanks to the new fan club which features t-shirts with the long-time favorite mantra of Redbird Arena volleyball fans: Point, Illinois State!
Affectionately called the pointers by visiting teams over the years, Redbird fans have a reputation for their volleyball knowledge, their substantial numbers and the volume they generate. Averaging 2,106 fans per home match over the past 10 seasons, Illinois State ranks No. 5 in the nation in home attendance and head coach Sharon Dingman says those fans define the home-court advantage for an ISU team which enters the 2004 season with an eight-match home-court winning streak and a 153-48 record in the buildings 15-year history.
Our fans mean so much to our team, said Dingman, whose team will be trying to shake off a 3-0 loss at No. 19 Illinois on Wednesday. The Point, Illinois State Club is a way those fans can show their support. Its great to look up at the stands and see so many people and so much red.
The Redbirds meet Denver at 7 p.m. in Fridays second match. At 5 p.m., Iowa opens the Cindy Fredrick coaching era against Wright State, 0-1 after a Wednesday loss to Ball State. Fredrick might be new to Iowa, but shes hardly a rookie coach. She took over at Iowa after turning Washington State into a force in the super-power Pacific 10 Conference. In her previous 19 seasons as a college head coach, her teams have averaged better than 20 wins per season.
Im excited about the quality of the teams in our tournament, said Dingman. Iowa has a new coaching staff that we really respect, and its always great to get a chance to play a Big Ten Conference opponent on our home floor. I know our fans appreciate that opportunity as much as our players and coaches.
Wright State is playing the Redbirds for the first time, but Raider coach Joylynn Tracy and Sharon Dingman got to match wits when Dingman was a WSU conference rival at Butler.
The first of 10 five-game matches the Redbirds played in 2003, with a Sept. 5 victory at Denver the first and one of the longest. Emily Kabbes and Laura Doornbos combined for 48 kills, 10 blocks and six service aces in the Redbirds 3-2 win. Kabbes had five kills and two blocks in the rally game to put the Birds on the winning side of the 2-hour, 15-minute marathon.
Our Denver match was so much fun last year, but Im sure they will remember that we beat them on their court and will be trying to do the same on ours, said Dingman. Theres a difference between name schools and volleyball schools. Believe me, Denver and Wright State are solid volleyball schools, well-coached and talented.
The Denver-Illinois State match features a clash of their respective conference 2003 Freshmen of the Year. Denvers Lisa Hunter, the 2003 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, led the Pioneers in kills and aces last year. Illinois States Savannah Knowles won the 2003 Missouri Valley Freshman of the Year honor after being the only freshman in the league to average above 2.5 kills and 2.0 digs per game. The Pioneers dropped their season opener at Colorado in four games on Wednesday.
