Nov. 3, 2007
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
In its most efficient offensive performance of the season, Illinois State's volleyball team recorded a dominating three-game sweep (30-10, 30-16, 30-23) over rival Bradley at Redbird Arena Saturday night. The win marked the first time ISU has swept its in-state rival twice in the same season since the 1998 campaign. The Redbirds tallied a season-best .371 hitting percentage in the win.
With the win, Illinois State snapped a two-match losing skid, and improved to 16-10 (8-7 Missouri Valley Conference) on the season. Bradley dropped to 3-24 and 2-12.
Senior middle blocker Kari Staehlin and freshman outside hitter Mallory Leggett led the Redbirds with 10 kills apiece. Leggett had a team-best .409 hitting percentage and Staehlin was close behind with a .381 hitting percentage. Junior setter Erin Lindsey had a game-high 37 assists, making her one assist shy of becoming the fourth player in school history to record 4,000 career assists.
Illinois State defeated Bradley 30-10 in game one, tying its largest margin of victory since the NCAA instituted rally scoring in the 2001 season. The Redbirds came out firing, jumping out a 9-2 lead, and forcing Bradley into its first timeout. ISU won eight of the ensuing nine points to stretch the advantage to 17-3. The lead ballooned to 25-5 ten points later after a kill by Katie Culbertson. Bradley won three of the final 11 points, but ISU coasted to the 30-10 win. The Redbirds recorded 30-10 single-game wins twice in the 2003 season, against both Clemson and Indiana State.
The Redbirds kept the momentum going in game two, racing out to a 12-2 lead and cruising to a 30-16 win. ISU doubled up the Braves by claiming a 20-10 lead after back-to-back kills by Staehlin. Bradley cut the lead to eight (20-12) two points later, but could draw no closer. Staehlin finished the stanza with five kills on a .500 hitting percentage.
Illinois State fought off an early Bradley rally to post a 30-23 in game three. Both teams traded points for the first seven possessions, before ISU went on a 16-6-9 run to take a 20-12 lead. Staehlin and Leggett each tallied two kills in the stretch. The Braves cut the lead to four (24-20), but the Redbirds finished the frame on a 6-4 run to post the 30-23 win. Leggett's 10th kill was the game-winner.
Illinois State returns home to host Valley foe Indiana State Thursday at Redbird Arena. First serve is set for 8 p.m.
