Sept. 28, 2007
Box Score
OMAHA, Neb. - Illinois State put four players in double-figures, but host Creighton remained unbeaten in the Missouri Valley Conference with a four-game win (30-25, 30-26, 19-30 and 30-22) over the Redbirds at the Omaha Civic Auditorium Friday night. Dating back to last season, the Bluejays have claimed four-consecutive wins over ISU.
With the loss, ISU drops to 10-6 on the season with a 2-3 Valley mark. Creighton improves to 10-5 and 4-0.
Kelly Goc led the Bluejays with a match-high 20 kills, while Allie Oelke (12 kills) Lauren Bloemke (11) and Abby Bauman (10) joined her in double figures. Kari Staehlin's 14 kills led a foursome in double figures for ISU.
"We mad too many hitting errors tonight. It was a one-point game in game four before we committed another flurry of errors. In games two and game four, we had near a negative hitting percentage, and you are not going to win games that way. We need to be able to maintain that level of consistency, and played with the level of intensity that we did in games one and three.
"We have to find a way to bounce back tomorrow against Drake."
Illinois State led just four times in game one, overcoming an early 5-2 deficit to claim 12-11, 13-11, 13-12 and 14-13 advantages. Creighton broke a 15-15 tie with a 5-0 spurt, and claimed a commanding 20-15 lead after two kills apiece by Abby Bauman and Kelly Goc. Illinois State pulled within two (27-25) down the stretch, but the Bluejays finished the stanza on a 3-0 spree. Staehlin and Mallory Leggett each tallied four kills to lead the ISU offensive attack, and Bauman led Creighton with six putaways.
The early stages of game two were very similar to game one, as Creighton took a 5-2 lead after seven possessions. Illinois State answered to take an 11-10 lead, but the Bluejays re-claimed the advantage two points later, and did not allow the Redbirds to regain the advantage for the remainder of the frame. The Redbirds tied the match twice in the final 16 possessions, but on both occasions, Creighton tallied a kill that jumpstarted 3-0 runs. The Bluejays capped off the 30-26 win with three kills in the final four points by Goc, who finished with eight kills and a .667 hitting percentage in the stanza.
Illinois State jumped out to a commanding 6-1 lead early in game three, forcing Creighton into its first timeout. The lead was extended to 8-1 two points later, before the Bluejays pulled back within two points twice (10-8 and 14-12) twice in the ensuing 17 possessions. But the Redbirds never let Creighton get any closer, as ISU built as large as a nine-point lead down the stretch. Katie Seyller served out the final six points of the game, including a service ace to cap off the 30-19 win.
Illinois State owned a 14-10 lead mid-way through game four before Creighton responded with an 8-4 spurt to claim a 19-18 lead that it would not relinquish. The Bluejays finished the stanza on an 11-2 run to complete the 30-22 win and 3-1 victory.
Illinois State will travel to Des Moines, Iowa to face off against Drake Saturday. Start time from the Knapp Center is set for 7:05 p.m.
