Illinois State Weekend Match Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Oct. 4, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State volleyball team will look to climb the Missouri Valley Conference standings when it continues league action this weekend against both Bradley and Northern Iowa. The Redbirds will travel to Peoria, Ill., for a 7 p.m. match Friday, and host the Panthers at Redbird Arena Saturday beginning at 7:05 p.m.
Please note the scheduling change. The 2007 ISU football and volleyball schedule card, which was distributed in July, listed this weekend's volleyball matches as follows: Oct. 5 versus Northern Iowa (home) and Oct. 6 versus Bradley (home). Instead, the Redbirds will travel to Bradley Friday. ISU will host its rival at Redbird Arena Nov. 3 at 7:05 p.m.
Illinois State (11-6, 3-3 MVC) is coming off last weekend's MVC road split. The Redbirds dropped a four-game (25-30, 26-30, 30-19 and 22-30) decision to host Creighton, but answered with a five-game (30-18, 27-30, 30-32, 30-27 and 15-12), come-from-behind victory over Drake at the Knapp Center Saturday, improving to 2-0 in MVC five-game matches.
The Redbirds enter this weekend leading the Valley, and are third overall in the nation, in digs (20.73 dpg). ISU has also run a consistent and efficient offense all season, led by defending first-team All-MVC setter Erin Lindsey. Lindsey entered last week leading the Valley in assists-per-game, and heads into this weekend's slate ranked fourth overall with 11.97 apg. Lindsey has spearheaded an offense that has three players averaging three-or-more kills-per-game, including middle blocker Kari Staehlin, right side hitter M.C. Richmond and outside hitter Peggy Riessen.
Lindsey is averaging 12.39 assists-per-game for her two-plus year career, which is the second-best mark in school history. She is just 2,302 assists away from the all-time standard, which was set by Kelly Rikli (2001-05). Lindsey averaged 1,432 assists-per-season in her first two campaigns with the Redbirds.
Bradley (1-15, 0-5 MVC) has lost 10-consecutive matches, dating back to Sept. 1 when the Braves captured their lone win of the season over Western Illinois. In Valley play, Bradley has dropped decisions to Wichita State, Missouri State, Drake, Creighton and UNI. Three of those setbacks have come via three-game sweeps.
Northern Iowa (8-8, 3-2 MVC) has won five-of its last eight matches, including three-of the past four in league action. The Panthers have recorded wins over Valley foes Wichita State, Drake and Bradley, but fallen to both Missouri State and Creighton in five-game decisions. UNI is 0-4 in five-game matches this season.
Illinois State leads the all-time series against Bradley, 36-6, including six-of the last seven in regular-season action. The Redbirds recorded the 2006 season sweep with a four-game win at Redbird Arena, and a sweep at Robertson Field House.
Northern Iowa owns a decisive 31-18 edge in the all-time series. The Panthers won both of the 2006 regular-season match-ups, but the Redbirds have claimed four-of the past eight meetings in the series, including three-of the last four matches at Redbird Arena.
Illinois State has fared much better on the road this season than it has at the confines of Redbird Arena. The Redbirds are 6-1 away from Normal, and are 3-4 at home. ISU has captured road wins over Northern Illinois (Aug. 28), Alabama (Sept. 1), Ball State (Sept. 8), Southern Illinois (Sept. 14) Evansville (Sept. 15) and Drake (Sept. 29).
