Sept. 1, 2007
Final Stats
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
Senior middle blocker Kari Staehlin had a team-high 18 kills, leading a foursome of Redbirds in double figures, as Illinois State's volleyball team upended host Alabama in four-games (30-28, 19-30, 30-21 and 30-18) in the finale of the `Bama Bash at Coleman Auxiliary Volleyball Extension Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Redbirds clinched a second-place finish in the tournament, and improved to 5-2 overall on the season.
Staehlin and setter Erin Lindsey were each named to the all-tournament team. Staehlin averaged 3.58 kills and 1.08 blocks-per-game in the three-match event, while Lindsey averaged 11.38 assists and 3.17 digs-per-game against Sacramento State, UAB and Alabama.
Freshman outside hitter Mallory Leggett (14 kills), junior right side hitter M.C. Richmond (12) and sophomore outside hitter Peggy Riessen (10) joined Staehlin with double-digit kills. Lindsey had 51 set assists to pace the offense, and Riessen had a team-high 25 digs defensively. Kasey Mollerus also contributed 16 digs.
"We played as focused as we could have today; it was pretty incredible to see," said head coach Sharon Dingman. "This team competes, and they compete hard. That is the one thing we are going to hang our hat on all season, besides the fact that we are a pretty good volleyball team, too. We need to keep in mind how hard we played today, because that's what it takes to win tough matches.
"The one thing we stressed this weekend is that our hitters needed to take some responsibility to kill the ball, because they knew that Erin (Lindsey) would get them good sets. I think our hitters are accepting that challenge, and they showed that today. This is huge win, but there is still a lot of volleyball to be played this season."
Illinois State claimed a six-point lead mid-way through game one, and held off a late Alabama surge to claim a 30-28 win and 1-0 advantage in the best-of-five. The Redbirds broke a 9-9 tie with a 3-0 spurt, forcing the Crimson Tide into their first timeout of the match. Staehlin won a joust, and Leggett had a kill in the stretch. The lead grew to six points three times down the stretch, before `Bama cut the lead to 26-24 after an ISU attack error. But Riessen followed with a kill, and Richmond finished the job with two kills in the final three points to give ISU the 30-28 win.
Staehlin collected six kills and hit .667 in game two, but the Crimson Tide used a 7-1 run mid-way through the stanza to aid in a runaway, 30-19 win. Dingman called a timeout with the Redbirds trailing 17-13, but the lead extended to 23-15 eight points later. Alabama had three service aces in the stretch. The Tide's Bridget Fuentez had 10 kills in the frame.
Illinois State answered with a dominating, 30-21 win in game three. The Redbirds broke an 8-8 tie with a quick 4-1 spurt to take a 12-9 advantage. The lead was pushed to 19-13 11 points later after a kill by Richmond, which forced the Crimson Tide into a timeout. Alabama would get no closer than five points for the remainder of the stanza, as the Redbirds finished the game on a 4-0 run. Riessen and Staehlin each contributed four kills in the frame, and Mollerus chipped in with six digs.
Leggett, Richmond and Riessen helped put the clamps down in the decisive fourth game with four kills a piece. The game was played to a 14-14 tie through the first 28 points, before Illinois State went on a commanding 6-0 run. Leggett shined in the stretch, recording two assisted blocks and a kill. Alabama cut the lead to three points (20-17), but the `Birds ended the game on a dominating 10-1 spurt. Leggett, Richmond and Staehlin each collected kills to help secure the 30-19 victory.
Illinois State will return home to host Saint Louis Tuesday beginning at 7:05 at Redbird Arena.
