Sept. 7, 2005
Normal, Ill. -
Illinois State middle blocker Kristin Dziubla picked up a kill in game four against Western Kentucky. Since that kill came late in a 30-11 game loss, it would be easy to overlook. But Redbird coach Sharon Dingman made a connection between that kill and her team's remarkable game five comeback victory, and it said something about Illinois State's mindset heading into the Nike/Pepsi Invitational at Ann Arbor, Mich., Friday and Saturday.
"Kristin's kill got our team excited," said Dingman, whose team came back to win game five 15-12 and the Barker GMC Classic in the process. "It gave us some momentum to build on going into that fifth game."
Dingman has confidence that she can send in any player at any time to change the momentum and get the team on track. She also was proud of the way her team responded to its worst game loss in Redbird Arena during the five years of 30-point games. She credited senior captain Ashley Grubb with giving vocal inspiration to the team.
"We met as a staff between games four and five and didn't have much time to talk to the team," said Dingman, whose team averages 12 players per match, "but I understand Ashley Grubb got a hold of the team in the huddle and had some things to say. Our players went out there (for game five) believing they could win and did the job."
Freshman Mary Catherine Richmond helped turn that fifth game in Illinois State's favor. ISU led 8-7 when Richmond drilled a kill and stuff-blocked Crystal Towler (who had 13 kills and no errors to that point in the match) to open a 10-7 Redbird lead. ISU led 11-9 when tournament MVP Laura Doornbos took over. She had three kills and teamed with Emily Kabbes for a block on the fourth of the final four points of the match for ISU. Dingman also praised freshman setter Erin Lindsey's role in the win.
"Lindsey is a very efficient player," said Dingman. "To see M.C. Richmond get a kill and a stuff block in the fifth game against an outstanding opponent like Western Kentucky was a sign of what we think we will see in the future. It's fun to see our young players do such a great job in that kind of match."
Things don't get easier for Illinois State.
The Redbirds, 3-1, meet 5-1 Cleveland State, 3-1 Akron and 0-3 Michigan in another round-robin tournament. CSU plays in the Horizon League, where Sharon Dingman coached at Butler for eight years. Like Kent State in last week's tournament, Akron calls the Mid-American Conference home. Michigan gives the Redbirds their second Big Ten opponent in three weeks. The Wolverines' record might be the nation's most misleading--MU's three losses have come to No. 7 Nebraska, No. 24 Long Beach State and a Notre Dame team among teams also receiving votes.
Dingman is glad to be seeing another Big Ten opponent. The Redbirds opened the season with a five-game loss to Illinois.
"Michigan has been to the NCAA the last three years and those are the kinds of opponents that can help us make a case for a bid this year," said Dingman. "CSU and Akron are both off to good starts this season. We expect a challenge."
The tournament at Ann Arbor is the final tune-up for the opening Missouri Valley Conference weekend, which features matches at Wichita State and Missouri State, picked No. 1 and No. 2 in the Valley preseason poll, respectively.
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NOTE: The Sept. 23 match with Drake at Redbird Arena will begin at 8 p.m. Publications and previous schedules all list another time.
