Nov. 8, 2008
Final Stats
OMAHA, Neb. - Illinois State had four players with double-digit kills but couldn't overtake Creighton in a four-set loss (25-17, 25-21, 23-25, 25-14) at the Omaha Civic Auditorium Friday. M.C. Richmond, Peggy Riessen, Katie Culbertson and Mallory Leggett all surpassed 10 kills for the Redbirds, but the team was held to .080 hitting in the defeat.
Richmond led all hitters with 15 kills and added 20 digs, Riessen had 13 kills with 24 digs, and Culbertson and Leggett each had 10 kills for Illinois State (13-14, 6-9 MVC). Both teams tallied 52 total kills in the match but Creighton (14-8, 11-3 MVC) held advantages in digs (106-102), blocks (12-8) and out-hit the Redbirds (.167-.080).
Creighton took a 2-0 lead into the break, limiting the Redbirds to .076 hitting in the first two sets. The Jays held Illinois State to a .040 percentage in the first set and took control of the match with a 6-0 run with the score tied at 10. Riessen notched three of her four kills in the opening set as the Redbirds tried to rally but it wasn't enough as the Jays won 25-17.
In the second set, Creighton scored six of the first eight points and led by as many as five points before the Redbirds rallied. With Illinois State trailing 16-12, Lindsey crashed into the scorers' table while chasing an errant dig and Richmond used a soccer kick to keep the ball in play and push it over the net. Creighton was caught celebrating the point and the unlikely kill started a small run that would see the Redbirds tie the match at 21. The Jays closed the match with four consecutive points, including a block, a service ace and two kills to win 25-21.
The Redbirds reversed the roles in the third set, jumping out to an 8-4 lead and leading all the way until the Jays tied the match and took the lead at 18-17. Illinois State responded with a 6-2 run to go ahead 23-20 but the Jays tied it up once again with three consecutive points. After a setting error by Creighton, Leggett ended the set and gave Illinois State a 25-23 win.
Creighton squashed any momentum the Redbirds built by jumping out to a 17-7 lead in the fourth set and were led in kills by Carolyn Decker and Jessica Houts, who each tallied three. The Jays tallied five blocks in the fourth set alone and won took the match with a 25-14 win.
Illinois State will return to Redbird Arena for the three games remaining on the regular season schedule, still looking to secure a berth in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Wichita, Kan. The Redbirds begin the home stand on Thursday when they host Indiana State at 8:05 p.m.
