May 22, 2007
SAN PIETRO di FELEITO, Italy - Despite receiving 18 kills from M.C. Richmond, Illinois State's volleyball team could not spoil a celebratory evening outside of Portenone, Italy Monday, as the Redbirds dropped three of four games to host Maeg Volley Codogne B1 Italy at Palasport di San Pietro di Feleito (Treviso). The match marked the grand opening of the facility, and a full capacity crowd was on hand.
The match marked the conclusion of ISU's playing portion of the International European Tour; the Redbirds ended the seven match slate with a 1-6 record.
The `Birds enjoyed early leads all four games, but could muster just one win in the end, leading from wire-to-wire in the fourth stanza in an exhibition format.
Codogne broke an early 11-11 game one tie with a 7-0 run to take a commanding 18-11 lead, receiving service aces in the stretch. ISU cut the lead to five points twice in the final five possessions, but could draw no closer than the final 25-20 score. Richmond had seven kills in the frame, while Kari Staehlin added four kills. Erin Lindsey assisted on 11 of the Redbirds' 12 kills; and Kasey Mollerus contributed 10 digs defensively.
Illinois State jumped out to an 8-5 advantage in the early stages of game two, but Codogne went on a 9-2 spurt to take a 14-10 lead that it would not relinquish. The Redbirds cut the lead to 22-20 late in the stanza, but committed three errors in the final four points, suffering the 25-21 defeat and 2-0 hole. Katie Seyller had two blocks in the front row to pace the ISU attack.
The Redbirds led 5-3 in the early stages of the third game after a kill by Lindsey. But Codogne went on a 5-0 spree and never surrendered the lead. After falling behind by as many as seven points, ISU forced extra points (24-24) by winning seven of the final 11 points down the stretch. But Codogne tallied a tip kill and forced a Redbird attack error in clinching the 26-24 victory. Seyller and Richmond combined for seven kills in the stanza, while Mollerus added 10 digs.
Illinois State put it all together in the fourth frame, never giving up the lead. Behind Seyller's serving, the Redbirds jumped out to a 5-0 lead; she had an ace, while Richmond tallied both a kill and a block in the stretch. Codogne tied the game three times in the final nine points, but ISU never lost control. Peggy Riessen clinched the win with back-to-back kills to end the game. Richmond's six kills led ISU, while Riessen chipped in with three kills. Lindsey had 10 set assists in the game.
Illinois State will have three more days in Europe, where it will visit and sightsee in both Venice and Rome, Italy.
