Oct. 31, 2008
Final Stats
NORMAL, Ill. -
Kasey Mollerus became the second player in Illinois State volleyball history to top 1,500 digs but the Redbirds were outlasted by Missouri State, 3-2 (25-22, 25-27, 25-21, 19-25, 18-16), at Redbird Arena Friday. MC Richmond also became the third player in school history to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs for her career.
The Redbirds (12-12, 5-7 MVC), who dropped their second consecutive five-set match, rallied from a 2-1 hole but dropped the final set to Missouri State (17-8, 8-4 MVC) in extra points, 18-16. Mollerus logged a season-high 29 digs and was one of five Redbirds to notch double-figure digs. Erin Lindsey controlled the Illinois State passing game with 57 assists.
In the first set, Illinois State fell behind 12-8, but strung together a 7-2 run and taking its first lead, 15-14. Katie Culbertson tallied four kills on a .429 hitting percentage. Despite the Redbirds surge, Missouri State responded behind the efforts of Sara Staubach and Cara Hackmann, who recorded four kills apiece and took the first set, 25-22.
The Redbirds jumped out to a 10-3 lead over the Bears in the second set, but the Bears mounted a 10-3 run to take its first lead of the match, 21-20. Illinois State regained the momentum and took the lead 23-22 and refused to relinquish it, winning the second set 27-25. Peggy Riessen led the Redbirds with six kills and a service ace in the second game.
In the third set, Missouri State grabbed an early 3-0 lead and never gave it up. The Redbirds pulled within a point at 7-6 but the Bears maintained the lead and won the set, 25-21.
Kristin Stauter had eight consecutive service points in the fourth set, including three aces to put Illinois State up 18-9. The Redbirds built on the momentum and took the set 25-19. The Redbirds held Missouri State to a .067 hitting percentage in the frame.
In the final set, the Redbirds fell behind 4-2, but battled back to take a 6-5 lead while forcing a Missouri State timeout. The Bears regained the lead at 10-9, but were forced into another timeout after Illinois State went on a 3-0 run behind kills from Lindsey and Riessen to regain the lead, 12-11. Missouri State fought off a Redbird match point and scored back-to-back points to take the match.
Malloy Leggett led Illinois State with 21 kills and was one of four Redbirds with double figure kills. For the Bears, Staubach and Hackmann both tallied 16 kills, while Terri Del Conte netted 28 kills.
The Redbirds continue Missouri Valley Conference play and will host No. 10 Wichita State Saturday at 7:05 p.m. in Redbird Arena during "Pack the Arena" night.
