When the Illinois State won the 2005 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Womens Basketball Tournament, one of the first people on the Redbird Arena court to congratulate head basketball coach Robin Pingeton was head volleyball coach Sharon Dingman. Now, Dingman is looking forward to those roles being reversed when the Redbirds host the 2006 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Tournament at Redbird Arena.
This will be the tournaments fourth appearance in Redbird Arena and Illinois State will play host for a record eighth time. The Valley announced the awarding of volleyball, and other tournaments, earlier this week. The Valley volleyball championship has been decided in Redbird Arena in 1995, 1997 and 2001. The 2006 tournament dates are Nov. 24-25.
Redbird Arena is such a great place to hold a volleyball tournament, said Dingman. And I do know that Robin will be on that floor hugging me if we won it.
Dingman appreciates the work done to bid on the tournament, recognizing that the facilities and commitment, like the competition in Valley volleyball, keeps getting stronger.
We have some nice facilities for volleyball around the Valley. More and more teams are interested in and capable of hosting, said Dingman. But I still think there is no place better than Redbird Arena. Ive heard from some of our players already and they are excited. I know the fan support will be there and well get some good community support as well.
The top six teams in the Valley regular-season standings compete for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Illinois State is the only team to compete in all 23 tournaments so far.
Since her team has won 21 of its last 22 home matches, including a school-record 18 straight home wins, Dingman knows a home-court advantage when she sees one.
Our players will sleep in their own beds, dress in their own locker rooms that can make a difference, said Dingman. But the biggest thing is the fan support. Our team will have a great crowd behind it.
The tournament was played in Horton Field House in 1983, 1988, 1989 and 1992. The Redbirds have won five of those home-court tournaments and nine Valley tournament championships in all. The 2006 event will be the 25th in league history. Northern Iowa will host in 2005 at West Gym.
Dingman will have five returning starters from a 22-9 team last season when Illinois State opens the 2005 season against Illinois Aug. 26 in Redbird Arena.
