Sept. 17, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State volleyball team, off to its second-best start under head coach Sharon Dingman, was recognized by receiving three votes in this week's CSTV/AVCA Top-25 coaches poll that was released Monday afternoon.
The Redbirds (10-3, 2-0 MVC) won both of their road contests against Southern Illinois and Evansville Friday and Saturday, respectively, in the opening weekend of Missouri Valley Conference play. Illinois State has strung together two three-match winning streaks this season, and its only three losses have come against 2006 NCAA Tournament teams, including a pair of top-20 foes (No. 7 Florida and No. 20 Ohio State).
Illinois State currently leads The Valley in digs (19.72 dpg), and ranks third overall in kills (15.43 kpg). The Redbirds have five players (Kasey Mollerus, Peggy Riessen, Mallory Leggett, M.C. Richmond and Erin Lindsey) that are averaging at least three digs per game; no other Valley school has more than three players that are averaging three-or-more digs-per-frame.
Richmond enters this weekend ranked second in the MVC with 3.81 kills-per-game. She tallied a career-best tying 23 kills and contributed a career-high 22 digs in ISU's five-game win at Evansville Saturday.
ISU joins Missouri State (31 votes) and Wichita State (11) as members of the Valley that received votes in this week's poll.
The Redbirds return home to host the Shockers (Sept. 21) and Bears (Sept. 22) this weekend. Both matches are set to begin at 7:05 p.m.
