Oct. 11, 2008
Stats
NORMAL, Ill. - Peggy Riessen collected a season-high 23 digs and Mallory Leggett posted a match-high 13 kills for Illinois State en route to the Redbirds' 24th-consecutive win over Drake at Redbird Arena Saturday. Illinois State swept past the Bulldogs, 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-15), for its 10th win, and fourth Missouri Valley Conference victory of the season.
Riessen topped her previous season high of 19 digs against Northern Iowa (Sept. 2) and added nine kills. Leggett led all hitters with 13 kills, and was joined in double figures by MC Richmond with 10 kills. Katie Culbertson also contributed in a major way for the Redbirds (10-9, 4-4 MVC), adding nine kills, an ace, three block-assists and two solo blocks.
Drake (9-9, 2-5 MVC) took an early 9-5 advantage in the first set behind hitters Alisa DeBerg Roth and Angela Bys. The duo combined to score eight of the Bulldogs' first nine points and teamed up to score 12 of Drake's 17 points in the opening set. Illinois State charged back to tie the match at 11 and 13, before closing on a 12-4 run. Illinois State countered with its own dynamic duo, as Leggett notched seven kills and Culbertson added five. Culbertson also had a service ace, a block-assist and a solo block in the opening frame.
In the second game, Richmond collected five kills, including four during a critical 7-3 run to give the Redbirds a 16-12 advantage. Riessen added four kills in the second set, and the Redbirds got an emphatic closing run by Hailey Kelley, who scored three of Illinois State's final four points to end seal the set, 25-16. Kelley finished the match with six kills and two block-assists.
Illinois State secured the sweep with a 25-15 win in the third set. Leggett led a balanced Redbird attack with four kills. Richmond, Culbertson, Riessen and Kelley all contributed three kills in the closing set. Erin Lindsey tallied 13 of her match-high 41 assists in the final frame.
The Redbirds begin a key four match round trip on which they will visit three Missouri Valley Conference foes. Illinois State takes on Indiana State next Friday in Terre Haute, Ind., and tangle with non-conference opponent SIU-Edwardsville next Saturday.
