Nov. 18, 2005
Box Score
NORAML, Ill. -
Ashley Grubb broke the Illinois State match dig record with 35 and Savannah Knowles had a career-high with 24 kills, but it wasn't enough for Illinois State as Missouri State downed the `Birds 30-26, 21-30, 30-20, 30-24 in a Missouri Valley Conference volleyball match Friday at Redbird Arena.
The Bears, 21-8, 14-3 in the Valley, clinched the No. 2 seed behind conference champion Wichita State in next weekend's State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Redbirds, 17-10, 13-4, will be the No. 3 seed and play the loser of Saturday's Creighton at Bradley match at 10 a.m. Friday at West Gym. After losing a five-game match to Creighton on Friday, Northern Iowa is the No. 4 seed and will play the CU-BU winner in the first round of the tournament. MSU and Wichita State have byes into the semifinals, with ISU meeting the Bears again if they win in the first round.
The Redbirds continue to play without kill and hitting percentage leader Kari Staehlin, who is sidelined with mononucleosis. Staehlin is the only player in the Valley's top 10 in kills per game and hitting percentage.
MSU coach Melissa Stokes thinks the Redbirds are doing a good job without their star, but it's tough.
"Staehlin definitely changes what happens on their side of the net," said Stokes. "The kids who are playing in her place are doing a good job, but she (Staehlin) is a player who makes a difference for them. She's one of the best middles in the conference."
Redbird coach Sharon Dingman agreed.
"We probably needed one more player that would give us some kills that we didn't get," said Dingman. "We have a young team and they are getting better, but it is hard and I am glad they are getting the experience. I don't normally say this unless my team is in first place, but we have really pieced some things together and I'm proud of where we are in the conference standings."
Illinois State was down 27-19 when Knowles had three straight kills to start a come back for her team. Teammate Emily Kabbes added three more kills, giving ISU 6 points in a row and bringing the score to 27-25. The `Bears broke up the six point comeback to hold on to its early lead and win the game.
Missouri State lead 18-17 in game two before Laura Doornbos, who finished with 15 kills, started a 6-0 Redbird run with a kill which allowed Illinois State to break away and end the game with a 13-3 finish. In game two, Grubb's 18th dig of the night made her the second player in Redbird history and the 14th in Missouri Valley history to collect 500 digs in a season with a dig on the second-to-last point in game two. Grubb has 517 for the season, three short of the Redbird season record is 520, set by ISU Hall of Famer Chris Rehor in 1985. She also broke the Redbird Arena record for digs in a match, which she shared with former teammate Paige White, with her 32nd kill of the match.
In game three Missouri State never trailed through out the entire game and out hit Illinois State .368 to .116. A Katie Kreimer five-point service stand in game four got the Bears a 7-2 lead and Illinois State never got closer than three.
The Redbirds' 7 p.m. Saturday match with Wichita State is senior night, with Grubb, Kabbes and Doornbos honored in special post-match ceremonies.
