Sept. 22, 2007
Final Stats
In an evening of closely-contested matches, Illinois State (10-3, 2-2 MVC) was on the wrong end of three of them and lost to Missouri State (13-2, 4-0 MVC) in four games, 3-1 (32-30, 30-26, 21-30, 30-27), Saturday night at Redbird Arena. All three Redbird losses were by four or fewer points, including an overtime battle in game one.
Sophomore outside hitter Peggy Riessen set a career-high with 18 kills and 20 digs. Junior right side hitter M.C. Richmond had a game-high 21 kills and a career-best 26 digs. Senior middle blocker Kari Staehlin was the other Redbird with double-figure kills, collecting 13, and had five block assists. Junior setter Erin Lindsey had a game-high 57 assists.
The Redbirds and Bears combined for 227 digs. ISU had 114 of them, the eighth-highest total in school history. Along with Richmond's career-high total, sophomore libero Kasey Mollerus chipped in 22 digs and Riessen added 20.
In game one, Missouri State took the lead early and held onto it for most of the match, but Illinois State battled throughout to stay within two points. Leading by a point, 19-18, the Bears separated themselves a little from the Redbirds with four quick points. ISU came back to tie the game up at 24-24. The two teams battled hard, trading points until the end, when a pair of Redbird errors gave the win to the Bears.
Game two followed the same script, as Missouri State clung to a small lead throughout. Illinois State tied the game once at 22 apiece, but the Bears never lost the lead and won the second game to take a 2-0 lead in the match. The Redbirds were hindered by 11 errors and a .089 hitting percentage.
Illinois State had control from the start of game three. Richmond had kills to produce three of the Redbirds' first four points. With the game tied, ISU blew it open with a 17-4 run, highlighted by two kills and two blocks by Staehlin, to take a 22-9 lead. Missouri State tried to claw back into the game with an 8-2 run of its own, but the damage had already been done. The closest the Bears could come was seven points and the Redbirds cruised to the victory.
Missouri State jumped out to a 6-1 lead in game four, which proved to be the deciding factor. The Redbirds were never able to overcome that deficit, although they did come close. Twice ISU pulled within a point late in the game.
Head coach Sharon Dingman felt that one of the keys to the Illinois State loss was the Redbirds inability to produce runs on the tough Bear defense.
"Missouri State is a hard team to secure runs on," said Dingman. "They do the three things that teams need to do to win matches: serve, pass and block."
The Redbirds return to action next weekend when they visit Creighton Friday, Sept. 28, and Drake Saturday, Sept. 29. Both matches are set to begin at 7 p.m.
