Aug. 31, 2007
Final Stats
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
Junior setter Erin Lindsey led an all-around efficient offensive effort, as the Redbirds' three outside hitters and middle blocker Kari Staehlin combined for 56 kills in a four-game (26-30, 30-17, 30-26 and 30-24) win over the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) at Coleman Auxiliary Volleyball Extension in the second-round of the `Bama Bash Friday afternoon. The Blazers were coming off Friday's earlier upset over host and SEC-West favorite Alabama.
"We played much better tonight, but I think you can attribute that to Sacramento State being a really good volleyball team; and they just outplayed us this morning," said head coach Sharon Dingman. "Tonight, we disrupted their (UAB's) game and competed harder. I was thrilled to see us come back the way we did.
"Our offense was also very well run," Dingman added. "I have a very close relationship with our setters, and Erin (Lindsey) has told me numerous times that she has confidence in very one of her hitters this season. That is probably the first time in her career that she can say that. I thought she (Lindsey) distributed the ball very well. Anytime you get double-digit kills out of four people, it shows you have really good setting."
Staehlin led the ISU offensive charge with 16 kills, while Mallory Leggett turned in a season-best 15 kills to go along with a team-high 22 digs; M.C. Richmond (14) and Peggy Riessen (11) also recorded double-digit kill performances. Along with her 47 set assists, Lindsey also chipped in with a season-high seven kills, and contributed 20 digs. Leggett also added four blocks for the Redbirds.
Illinois State broke an early 6-6 tie with a 6-2 spurt to claim a 12-8 lead, but UAB re-grouped eight possessions later, tying the game at 14-14 after back-to-back kills. The Blazers held the lead for the ensuing nine points before Leggett re-tied the stanza at 19-19 with a stuff block. The Blazers claimed the lead for good nine possessions later (24-23), after a kill by Casey Dent. The Redbirds trimmed the lead to two points (27-25) following a kill by Riessen and a Blazer service error, but UAB ended the frame on a 3-1 spree to seal the 30-26 win.
The Redbirds responded with a dominant front row effort in game two, tying the match at 1-1 with a 30-16 win, their largest margin of victory on the season. The stanza was tied at 5-5 following 10 possessions, but ISU strung together a 4-0 spurt behind the serving of Riessen to take a 9-5 advantage. The Redbirds led by as many as 15 points (24-9) down the stretch. Richmond and Leggett's solid serving paced two of the large runs. Hailey Kelley came off the bench to provide two kills in the frame.
Illinois State carried the momentum over to game three, playing to a 10-10 tie through 20 possessions, before stringing together a 5-0 spree to take a commanding 15-10 lead. The Redbirds held the advantage for the remainder of the game, despite allowing the Blazers to cut the lead to just two points twice down the stretch. Leggett, who had six kills in the game, provided a lift with an assisted block and kill in the final seven points to aid in the 30-26 win.
The Redbirds and Blazers appeared headed for a fifth game in the early stages of the fourth stanza, as UAB held the lead or a tie with ISU for the initial 43 possessions. But with the match deadlocked at 21-21, the `Birds went on a quick 5-2 spurt to take a 26-23 lead after consecutive kills by Riessen. Three points later, Riessen gave ISU a 28-24 advantage with a cross-court kill; and combined on back-to-back solo blocks with Kelley to clinch the 30-24 win and four-game victory.
Illinois State will continue action in the `Bama Bash Saturday afternoon, when the Redbirds take on Alabama at 1:30 p.m.
"As I've said from the beginning, this is the best tournament we could have played in heading into Valley play," said Dingman. "That Alabama team is mighty physical, so we'll have our hands full with them tomorrow."
