ISU Weekend Match Notes in PDF Format
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Oct. 20, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -- Fresh off a five-game win over three-time Mid-Continent champion Valparaiso, the Illinois State volleyball team will jump back into Missouri Valley Conference action this weekend by hosting a pair of foes that they have historically dominated. Southern Illinois and Evansville visit Redbird Arena on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
With two wins, the `Birds (10-10, 4-5 MVC) would clinch an above .500 record in league play for the first time this season. Illinois State started off the league slate with a 1-4 mark before rolling off three consecutive victories to even their record at 4-4. Despite dropping a three-game decision at Northern Iowa on Oct. 14, head coach Sharon Dingman believes that her team played very well in game three of that match, and it carried over to Thursday night, where the `Birds recorded a come-from-behind victory over the Crusaders. Illinois State put four players in double figures in kills in the win, and recorded 72 team kills, their most output in a single-match since Sept. 23 against Missouri State.
"Even though we were swept, and lost game three of the Northern Iowa match last Saturday, I thought we played as well in that game as we have all season," said Dingman. "We executed very well offensively, our blocking was as good as it has been, and I felt like we gained some confidence against a great opponent. That really carried over to the match against Valparaiso where we were forced to put together a comeback through some adverse situations.
"I'm hoping that our confidence remains high as we officially head into the second half of our conference season."
Illinois State owns a 56-5 all-time advantage over Southern Illinois (9-10, 4-5 MVC). Dating back to the 1990 season, the Redbirds have claimed 30 consecutive regular season decisions against the Salukis. Johannah Yutzy , a 2005 First-Team All Missouri Valley Conference selection, leads SIU with 219 kills (3.22 kpg). The preseason all-conference selection ranks ninth in the Valley in kills behind ISU's Kari Staehlin (3.51 kpg). She recorded 15 kills in ISU's four-game win at Davies Gymnasium on Sept. 23.
"I love Yutzy's game," Dingman said. "I absolutely believe she is one of the top middles in this conference. She played extremely well against us in Carbondale, and I expect the same type of effort out of her on Friday night."
Evansville (10-10, 4-5 MVC) recorded their first-ever win over Illinois State in a three-game sweep at the Carson Center on Sept. 22. The loss was the fourth straight for the Redbirds at the time. Purple Aces' outside hitter Sarah Treadway and middle blocker Kerry Sylvester combined for 20 kills in the match.
"That (the match at Evansville) was a tough night for us," said Dingman. "Our players definitely remember what that felt like, and I've heard a few comments this week about getting revenge on Evansville. But we have to worry about a very talented Southern Illinois team first.
"There is a lot at stake this weekend. Either SIU or Evansville is arguably vying for the last spot in the Valley tournament positioning. Plus, if we win both matches this weekend, we can really separate ourselves from those teams. It's going to be a great weekend of volleyball in our league."
