Oct. 23, 2008
Final Stats
EAST PEORIA, Ill. - Mallory Leggett logged 13 kills and led a balanced Illinois State attack as the Redbirds swept Bradley (25-22, 25-15, 25-22) at Illinois Central College Thursday night.
Illinois State (12-10, 5-5 MVC) used nine kills each from Katie Culbertson, MC Richmond and Peggy Riessen, in addition to Leggett, and hit .347 en route to completing the season sweep of the Braves (4-19, 0-10). The Redbirds limited the Braves to .175 hitting on 80 attempts and out-set Bradley 43-29.
Illinois State rallied from a point down and closed the opening set on a 6-2 run behind consecutive kills from Leggett, Riessen and Richmond. Bradley scored the opening point of the match, but it was the Redbirds who led for much of the opening set. Bradley was down by as much as four before getting its first lead at 20-19 in the first set. Leggett notched two kills in the final run, including a strike to give the Redbirds a 23-22 lead before Riessen and Richmond tallied back-to-back scores to end the set.
The Redbirds carried the surge into the second set and scored 11 of the first 14 points while building an early 11-3 lead. Bradley tried to rebound, getting within five of Illinois State at 15-10, but couldn't draw closer. Illinois State tallied four services aces in the in the second set, including two from Richmond and an ace from Riessen to end the set at 25-15.
After unsuccessfully trying to overtake the Braves with the score tied at 11, 12, 13 and 14, the Redbirds put together a 6-0 run to take their first lead since the opening points of the third set. Illinois State hung onto the lead and won the set and match, 25-22. The Redbirds hit an impressive .424 in the closing set.
Erin Lindsey notched a match-high 36 assists and tied Riessen for the team lead with eight digs. Hailey Kelley tallied three block-assists and Laura Wakefield added a service ace.
The Redbirds conclude their four-match road swing with a visit to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and a second meeting with Northern Iowa Saturday.
