Aug. 18, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
Head coach Sharon Dingman is hoping for a sympathetic audience for Sunday's 1 p.m. volleyball intra-squad scrimmage in Redbird Arena. With five open starting positions still up for grabs, Dingman and her staff have some tough decisions to make prior to the 7 p.m., Friday, Aug. 26 home opener against Illinois.
According to Dingman, senior middle blocker Emily Kabbes and freshman setter Erin Lindsey are the only two players with starting jobs locked up. After that, it gets tough because Dingman has 12 players battling for the other five starting spots--a middle blocker (opposite Kabbes), two left-side hitters, a right-side player and a libero.
"After Sunday's scrimmage, I hope our fans will empathize with the tough job our staff has to go through," said Dingman. "A strong performance will make the choices tougher, but it also should make our team better."
With nine veterans (including Kabbes, a four-year starter) and six newcomers (including Lindsey, who likely will be the first freshman setter to start the first match of the season for Illinois State since 1986), Dingman has talent and experience to choose from. It's a matter of the right fit.
"We probably will be looking at the right people on the floor first, then deciding positions," said Dingman. "We've told the players `go out there and make our (the coaches') jobs harder.'"
The scrimmage will begin at 1 p.m. with player introductions and figures to consist of three 30-point games and a 15-point game, but Dingman won't keep her team on the court longer than two hours. It's the third straight year the Redbirds will open against Illinois; the `Birds also started the 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1978 seasons against the Illini.
