Nov. 13, 2008
Stats
NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State's Peggy Riessen had a game-high 15 kills and added two solo blocks as the Redbirds swept past Indiana State, 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-22), at Redbird Arena Thursday night.
Riessen hit .400 while collecting three total blocks and 12 digs on the defensive end while helping the Redbirds (14-14, 7-9 MVC) salvage a season split with the Sycamores (8-21, 2-14 MVC). M.C. Richmond added nine kills and Mallory Leggett contributed eight for the Redbirds, who out hit Indiana State .236-.160. Illinois State held advantages in nearly every category, including kills (45-36), digs (56-48), assists (43-31) and blocks (8-3).
Illinois State set the tone early in the first set, scoring the match's first five points. Riessen led all hitters with six kills in the opening frame and the Redbirds never relinquished the lead, despite a late push by Indiana State to tie it at 23. Illinois State hit .389 in the first and won 25-23.
Indiana State jumped out to a 13-10 lead in the second set behind a flurry of kills from Kristin Hunt and Kelli Whitaker. The Sycamore duo combined for six kills in the set and four of the first 13 Indiana State points. The Redbirds answered with Riessen, who notched three kills while fueling a 11-2 run to erase the deficit and put Illinois State up 21-15. Riessen finished with five kills in the set and the Redbirds won 25-19.
Both teams traded shots in the third set, pushing to a 15-15 tie before the Sycamores scored three consecutive points to match the largest lead of the set. Four straight errors by Indiana State put the Redbirds back on top and gave Illinois State enough momentum to close the match with a 25-22 third set win.
Whitaker finished as the Sycamores' leader with nine kills while Whitney Fromm controlled the Indiana State offense with 28 set-assists.
The Redbirds get a short rest this weekend before closing the regular season at home with Southern Illinois and Evansville at Redbird Arena, Nov. 21-22. Illinois State is locked in a heated competition with the Salukis for the final berth in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and the two square off Friday (Nov. 21) at 7:05 p.m. Illinois State will honor its senior class after Saturday's 7:05 p.m. match with the Purple Aces.
