Nov. 27, 2008
Final Stats
WICHITA, Kan. - Mallory Leggett and Peggy Riessen combined for 19 kills but Illinois State was held to a .015 hitting percentage in a 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-23) loss to Missouri State in the opening round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Koch Arena Thursday.
Illinois State lost senior right side M.C. Richmond, the Redbirds' third-leading scorer (2.5 kills per set), during warm-ups and looked shaken through the first two sets. Richmond, sprained her right ankle after landing on a ball and left the court with Illinois State trainer Kelly Haley during player introductions. Richmond returned for the Redbirds in the second set and helped Illinois State regroup in the third, but Missouri State proved too tough.
"Missouri State played very well, they came ready," Illinois State head coach Melissa Myers said. "I think we pushed them to the limit (at Redbird Arena) and they game planned well. They passed well against us tonight which allowed them to run their middles - which is their strength. (Missouri State middle blockers) Calli Norman and Cara Hackman had great nights and were really difficult to defend against."
Leggett tied Missouri State's Addie Foley with for the match-high with 10 kills, and Riessen contributed nine kills. Erin Lindsey notched 26 assists for the Redbirds. Illinois State was out-killed (37-31), out-dug (59-53) and out-hit (.149-.015), but held a 9-8 advantage in blocks.
In the opening set, Missouri State used a 10-0 run to build an early 12-4 lead and extended its lead to nine at 18-9. Illinois State scored seven of the next 10 points to cut the lead to four (20-16), but the Bears held and took the first set, 25-19. Missouri State's Addie Foley led all hitters with four kills as both teams combined to collect just 16 kills. Missouri State hit .067 as a team while the Redbirds hit a paltry -.105.
The second set opened with six ties and four lead changes before Missouri State used a 9-3 run en route to a 16-10 lead. Illinois State answered with a 3-0 run, receiving a momentary boost with the return of Richmond, but the Bears never relinquished the lead won the set, 25-20. Leggett notched four of Illinois State's final five points while trying to rally the Redbirds and finished the set with five kills.
Illinois State produced a better effort in the third set and led 22-18 after a late 7-0 run. Missouri State scored seven of the final eight points, however, and closed the set and match with a 25-23 win.
"(M.C.'s injury) was a tough break," Myers said. "It rattled everyone a little bit. She's a primary passer for us and she's a huge part of our ball control so it made a huge difference. It got better every set for us, but Missouri State played well."
In addition to Foley, Missouri State got a strong match from Calli Norman (9 kills, 3 block-assists) and Julie Cawthra, who had 31 assists in place of injured starting setter Ashley Kell.
Missouri State advanced to play top-seed, undefeated Wichita State (29-0, 18-0 MVC) in Friday's semifinal match at 7 p.m. Despite the loss, the Redbirds finished the season with their 33rd overall winning record in 36 years of recorded volleyball history at Illinois State.
