Sept. 3, 2005
Normal, Ill.
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Tournament Most Valuable Player Laura Doornbos hammered home game point in the fifth game to complete an improbable Illinois State comeback and to win the championship of the Barker GMC Classic Saturday at Redbird Arena. After losing game four 30-11, the `Birds bounced back to beat Western Kentucky in game five for a 30-23, 18-30, 30-20, 11-30, 15-12 victory.
Illinois State, 3-1, got 21 kills from Savannah Knowles and 15 from Doornbos, who scored points No. 12, 14 and 15 in game five. Ashley Grubb had 22 digs and Erin Lindsey added 55 set assists as they joined Doornbos on the all-tournament team. ISU defended its Barker GMC Championship from a year ago despite being out-scored 115-104 in total points for the match.
Western Kentucky, 4-1, had five players in double figures in kills led by Crystal Towler with 13. Towler and teammate Megan Argabright also were on the all-tournament team, along with Kent State's Anne Butts and Western Illinois' Patty Melinauskas. Kent finished third in the tournament and Western Illinois was fourth.
In game one of the championship match, Knowles had eight of Illinois State's 19 kills as the `Birds took on early lead and held it throughout the game. Losing momentum in game two, the `Bids lost 30-18; allowing 16 Hilltopper kills.
Once tied at 18 in game three, the `Birds took a 2-1 lead in games with a 12-2 finish as Lindley McDavid served five consecutive points. Nothing went right for ISU in game four, as the `Birds trailed 20-4 at one juncture with just two kills and eight hitting errors. Western Kentucky dominated that game.
The Toppers scored the first two points of game five, forcing ISU to play catch-up. Back-to-back Kabbes service points put ISU ahead 8-6. ISU led 11-9 when Doornbos got her first kill of the game to begin the final push. Western Kentucky didn't make it easy--it took Doornbos three swings to finally put match point on the floor.
Redbird coach Sharon Dingman hadn't seen anything like the one-game turnaround from game four to game five.
"It was really remarkable what we did tonight," said Dingman. "In 21 years of coaching, I don't think I've seen anything like it. We did some major regrouping. Volleyball's funny that way--players must have the ability to forget about it (a 30-11 loss), and know it's 0-0 the next game. Because we know that and they have so much belief in themselves and each other, we were able to bounce back."
ISU used 12 players to win the match, and Doornbos saluted the confidence of her teammates.
"To be able to play 12 girls deep into our bench is amazing," said Doornbos. "And to have each one of them be able to get points on the board while there in is even more amazing. They all enter the game with a lot of confidence."
Lindsey, the freshman setter, quarterbacked the Redbird offense through some dry spells and some power hitting. Doornbos and Knowles were there when she needed them to put balls to the floor.
"Coming off the end my club season with a loss, this was an unforgettable experience," said Lindsay. "To have such great outside hitters who always seem to put the ball away and great passes really helps."
Earlier in the day, Grubb tied a Redbird Arena record with 31 digs, and Doornbos had 23 kills to lead Illinois State past Western Illinois 30-23, 20-30, 30-20, 30-17 in the second match of the second round. Kabbes added 15 kills to the Redbird total and earned ISU a trip to the title match.
In the first match of the day Western Kentucky came back from a game one loss to beat Kent State 28-30, 30-25, 30-18, 30-28. In game two, the `Toppers sprinted away from a 16-16 tie with a 12-3 run to change the momentum.
In match number three, Kent State came back from a 29-25 deficit in game one to pull out a 31-29 victory. The Golden Flashes then dominated the final two games winning by scores of 30-24 and 30-23. Kent State took third place and WIU finished fourth.
Illinois State travels to Ann Arbor, Mich. for the Nike/Pepsi Invitational next weekend, meeting Michigan, Akron and Cleveland State in another round-robin tournament.
