Nov. 30, 2007
Final Stats
Illinois State's postseason run came to an end Friday, as the Redbirds were eliminated in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament by the 14th-seeded Colorado State Rams in a three-game decision (30-26, 30-20 and 30-15) at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Redbirds, who garnered an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament, were playing in their first postseason match since the 1998 season. With the win, Colorado State, also ranked No. 21 in the nation, will face the winner of the Michigan/Miami (Ohio) match Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
ISU finishes its season with 21 wins (21-12), its highest victory output since the 2004 season, when the Redbirds went 22-9 overall. The `Birds also broke a nine-year NCAA Tournament draught. ISU has now competed in 12 NCAA Tournaments with three at-large berths to the event.
The Rams were led by Jamie Strauss and Tessa Nelson, who tallied 10 kills apiece in the win. ISU was led by senior middle blocker Kari Staehlin's eight kills and Erin Lindsey's 26 set assists. The Redbirds held middle Mekana Barnes, who came into the match hitting over .400 with better than four kills per game, to just nine kills.
Illinois State was out-killed (47-35), out-assisted (42-33) and out-dug (68-57), and hit .056 for the match. There were a combined six ties and lead changes in the contest.
"The only way that you learn how to play in this great environment is to get here and experience it first hand," said head coach Sharon Dingman. "We started three sophomores, one freshman, two juniors and one senior (tonight), and I think that bodes very well for what can be for the Redbirds in the future. I thought we played hard from start-to-finish, and that was encouraging. Certainly, we weren't particularly good at times, but I am very proud at how hard we competed and it was a great experience for our program.
"I thought Colorado State really showed why they are a nationally seeded team, especially in game three. They showed that they can really kill the ball. Their right side (hitter) was very good tonight, and they played like a team that has been in the NCAA Tournament for 13-straight years. CSU is a great team for us to model ourselves after. We want to get to the point that they are at, getting to the postseason year in and year out."
Colorado State came out hot, jumping out to a commanding 11-5 lead, forcing ISU into its first timeout. Strauss had three service aces in the stretch. The lead was extended to as many eight points (16-8) before the Redbirds answered with a 5-1 spurt, and cut the CSU advantage to 17-13. ISU continued the run after forcing the Rams into a timeout, eventually cutting the lead to two points (22-20 and 25-23) twice in the ensuing 20 possessions. But CSU responded with a 3-1 spree, and forced Dingman into her final timeout of the game with her team trailing, 27-23. The Rams won three of the final six points to claim the 30-26 win and 1-0 advantage in the best-of-five match.
The Redbirds had three service errors in the final 14 points. Staehlin had a team-high four kills in the game, while Nelson led an efficient CSU attack with five kills. The Rams hit .242 in the game, while ISU hit just .154.
ISU jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in game two, but the Rams fought back to tie the match at 8-8 just 11 possessions later. Colorado State collected its second lead of the game just three points later, and never surrendered the advantage. The Rams' lead grew as large as nine points (22-13) in the ensuing stages, and ISU could not draw any closer than eight points for the remainder of the frame. Tony Mokelki had two kills in the final three points to secure the 30-20 win.
Colorado State carried the momentum over to the beginning stages of the third game, jumping out to a 9-3 lead. The Rams had three kills, but ISU countered with three errors in the stretch. The Redbirds trimmed the lead to four, 10-6, after going on a quick 3-1 spurt. But the Rams answered with a commanding 11-5 spree and took a 21-11 lead after a kill by Nelson. ISU won just four of the final 13 points, as the Rams coasted to the 30-15 win, and advanced to the second-round of the NCAA Tournament.
Illinois State will return 12 letterwinners, including five starters, to next year's squad. The Redbirds also welcome a highly touted two-member recruiting class to the fold next fall.
