Illinois State Match Notes in PDF Format
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Sept. 20, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State's volleyball team, one of just two unbeaten team in the Missouri Valley Conference, returns to Redbird Arena this weekend to host a pair of foes that are, along with the Redbirds, receiving votes in the weekly CSTV/AVCA Top-25 coaches' poll. ISU will play host to Wichita State (8-4, 1-1 MVC) Friday, and face Missouri State (11-2, 2-0) on "Pack the Arena" night Saturday. Both matches are scheduled at 7:05 p.m.
Illinois State (10-3, 2-0 MVC) is coming off last weekend's road sweep of Southern Illinois and Evansville. The Redbirds defeated the Salukis in a four-game decision (30-25, 30-20, 26-30 and 30-26) and overcame a 0-2 deficit to post a five-game win (24-30, 26-30, 30-24, 30-25 and 15-10) over the Purple Aces. M.C. Richmond, who compiled 52 kills in three matches last week, was tabbed the Valley's Player of the Week. Richmond had a career-high tying 23 kills to go along with a career-best 22 digs at Evansville.
Wichita State defeated UMKC Wednesday night to pick up its eighth win. The Shockers went 1-1 in Valley play last weekend, claiming a four-game decision over Bradley Friday, and dropping a four-game match at home against Northern Iowa.
Missouri State, winners of six straight, is 2-0 in the league for the third year in a row. Illinois State is the league's only other 2-0 team, and the pair joins Creighton (1-0) as the conference's remaining three unbeaten teams.
The Redbirds, Shockers and Bears all received votes in this week's coaches poll.
Illinois State owns a decisive 28-14 all-time series lead against Wichita State, and holds a slim, 36-33 advantage over Missouri State.
Free tickets to Saturday's match against the Bears can be picked up at the following Bloomington-Normal locations: Arby's, B104, Pepsi, WJBC, WBNQ, McDonald's, Papa John's, Alamo II, Taco Bell and Hanson's Dry Cleaners.
