Weekend Match Notes 
Oct. 9, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State volleyball team will look to snap its two-match Missouri Valley Conference losing skid when the Redbirds host both Creighton (Oct. 11) and Drake (Oct. 11) at Redbird Arena this weekend. The Bluejays have claimed five-consecutive four-set wins over Illinois State, but the Redbirds have rolled off 23-consecutive wins over Drake, dating back to the 1996 season.
The Illinois State athletics department will help "Paint the Arena Pink" for Saturday's match against Drake. Both Illinois State and Drake will be wearing pink warm-up apparel in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. Admission to the match will be just $1, and $1 hot dogs, pink Dippin' Dots and pink lemonade will be for sale.
The Redbirds (9-8, 3-3 MVC) are coming off last weekend's back-to-back sweeps at the hands of hosts No. 14 Wichita State (Oct. 3) and Missouri State (Oct. 4), marking the second-consecutive season the Redbirds had not won a single-set on the road swing. ISU's three-set setback against the Bears came at the slimmest of margins (24-26, 23-25, 27-29), with two sets going to extra points.
"This is an important weekend for our team as we approach the half-way point of our conference schedule," said head coach Melissa Myers. "Creighton has played a strong non-conference schedule, and has three good wins in conference play. We'll need to have a great defensive effort, both at the net and in the backcourt, if we want to stop its offense. Drake is a team that has played hard and well this season, already winning more matches this season than all of last. I'm sure they're looking for more, which is why our team will need to establish a strong presence in the match from start to finish.
"As we build on the good offensive effort and decisions we made last weekend, particularly against Missouri State, we need to take advantage of every opportunity that both Creighton and Drake give us, but more importantly we need to create opportunities for ourselves to score. The character of this team will be revealed as these teams battle us for a good spot in the conference standings."
Peggy Riessen leads the Redbirds offensively, and leads the Valley, with 3.95 kills per set in conference play. Mallory Leggett's 3.11 kills per frame rank eighth in the MVC. Right-side hitter-converted middle blocker Katie Culbertson has continued to provide both an offensive and defensive presence in the front row, averaging a Valley fourth-best 1.16 blocks per conference set. In conference play, the Redbirds lead the MVC in digs per set, compiling 19.63 through six league contests.
Four of Creighton's (6-7, 3-2 MVC) six losses this season have come against nationally-ranked opponents, including last Sunday's three-set setback against No. 2 Nebraska in front of 8,037 fans at Civic Auditorium. Senior setter Korie Lebeda is a two-time First-Team All-MVC selection, and leads the Bluejays' offense, averaging 10.35 assists per set. Three Creighton players have 100-or-more kills this season, led by Jessica Houts' 173 kills (3.60 kps) and team-leading 55 blocks.
Drake (8-8, 1-4 MVC) is led by Angela Bys, who has recorded 209 kills on the season with a .219 hitting percentage. Defensively, Alana Wittenburg leads the team in digs at 289, while Michelle Reidy leads the Bulldogs with 52 blocks. Drake started out 6-0 this season, capturing the team title at the Sam Houston State Invitational (Aug. 29-30).
Illinois State leads the all-time series against Creighton, 23-8, and boasts a 46-5 all-time advantage over Drake.
At the conclusion of Friday's match, junior middle blocker Katie Seyller will be holding an autograph session. Katie Culbertson will be Saturday's featured student-athlete, and will also be signing autographs.
