Sept. 22, 2006
Final Stats
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Evansville's volleyball team made history in its match against visiting Illinois State Friday night, capturing its first-ever win over the Redbirds in a three-game sweep (30-24, 30-26, 30-23) in front of a packed crowd here at the Carson Center.
The loss extends Illinois State's (4-8, 0-3 MVC) season high losing streak to four matches. They were also swept for the fourth time this season.
Junior middle blocker Kari Staehlin recorded 11 kills in the setback. Evansville was led by Kerry Sylvester and Danielle Diehl, who each collected 10 kills.
"Evansville came out a played a good match tonight," said head coach Sharon Dingman. "They played hard and they played well. We're a young team, and these type of things tend to happen to a young group. We've got to bounce back and get ready for a very important match against Southern Illinois tomorrow."
Illinois State claimed the early lead in game one, but Evansville used a 5-0 mid-way through the frame to propel them to the 30-24 win. The `Birds came out firing, as two kills by Staehlin and an Evansville hitting error gave Illinois State the early 3-0 lead. But Evansville quickly charged back, and claimed their first lead of the stanza at 6-5 following an Illinois State net violation. The Purple Aces built a three-point lead (13-10) 12 points later after an assisted block. Illinois State took the lead (16-15) for the first time since 5-4 eight possessions later following a kill by M.C. Richmond. But the advantage lasted just one point, as Evansville posted an ensuing 5-0 run to claim the 20-16 lead. The Purple Racers built a lead of six points three separate occasions down the stretch, and coasted to the 30-24 win.
Illinois State again claimed the early advantage, jumping out to a 7-3 lead after 10 possessions. But Evansville battled back with a 5-0 spurt to take the 8-7 lead. They extended their lead to three, 16-13, following another 3-0 run, and forced Dingman into her first timeout of the frame. The Redbirds never regained the lead, falling behind by as many as seven points before mounting a 6-1 run that pulled them back within two (28-26) behind the serving of Kasey Mollerus. But the Racers clinched the win and 2-0 lead in the best-of-five by capitalizing on two ISU hitting errors in the game's final three points. Staehlin had five kills in the game for the `Birds, while Evansville's Sarah Treadway countered with five kills for the Purple Aces.
Evansville kept the momentum on their side in game three, and never allowed the Redbirds to claim a lead in game three. They raced eight point leads six times in the first 25 possessions of the frame, before the Redbirds recorded a 5-0 run that got them back within 19-14. The `Birds pulled within four points at 24-20, but could get no closer, dropping the 30-23 decision.
Illinois State will continue its Missouri Valley Conference road swing with a match at Southern Illinois tomorrow at 7 p.m.
