Dec. 20, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. - After setting a single-season record with 2,291 digs in the 2006 season, Illinois State's volleyball team finished ninth in the final NCAA statistics in digs-per-game (19.58). The Redbirds were among three Missouri Valley Conference teams to finish in the top-15 in the nation in the defensive category.
The 2006 dig total broke the previous single-season record of 2,158, which was set in the 1984 season when the Redbirds earned the Gateway Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Illinois State and Wichita State (who finished sixth in the nation) paced the Valley in digs-per-game all season. In Illinois State's 3-1 win at Charles Koch Arena on Nov. 17, the two teams combined for 256 digs, as the Redbirds set a four-game single-match record with 130 digs.
ISU starting freshman libero Kasey Mollerus collected 576 digs on the season, just five off the previous single-season Redbird record (581), which was set by 2005 MVC Libero of the Year Ashley Grubb. Seniors Kelly Waterstraat (232) and Lindley McDavid (134), sophomores Erin Lindsey (336) and M.C. Richmond (264), and junior Kari Staehlin (110) all set career-highs in digs this season. Senior defensive specialist turned outside hitter Jessie Janik also contributed 257 digs, just 18 off her previous season-high (275).
Illinois State head coach Sharon Dingman acknowledged that her team's defensive mentality was the difference in the Redbirds reversing their 1-4 start in Valley play to finish 11-7.
"For us to succeed like we did this season, it was imperative for us to dig a lot of balls and the team understood that," said Dingman. "We weren't one of the top blocking teams in the Valley, so we needed to create opportunities to get swings on the offensive end. Our defensive mentality and skill allowed us to do that. Certainly, Kasey (Mollerus) was instrumental in our defensive system, but Kelly Waterstraat, M.C. Richmond and Erin Lindsey also played very key roles. To be a good defensive team, each player has to understand and play within the system. Digging was certainly our strength this season."
Wichita State ended the season ranked sixth overall in the NCAA with 20.47 digs per game, while Creighton's 19.42 digs-per-game ranked 12th overall.
