March 29, 2008
CHICAGO -
The Illinois State volleyball team took the court competitively for the first time since playing in the 2007 NCAA Tournament Saturday, when the Redbirds competed in the 12-team Chicago Spring Challenge at the Palos Courts in the Windy City. ISU went 6-4 in ten games played to 25 points. The event kicked off the Redbirds' four-week 2008 spring season.
The Redbirds started the day with a two-game split against 2007 NCAA Tournament at-large foe Ohio State. The Buckeyes claimed game one, 25-22, before ISU countered with a 25-19 win in the second game. The match marked a recap at Redbird Arena last September, when Ohio State recorded a three-game sweep (32-30, 30-22 and 30-12) over the Redbirds.
In its second match of the day, the `Birds defeated Akron in game one, 25-12, before falling in the second game, 25-17. The Zips were playing their first match under the leadership of new head coach Ron Arenz.
Illinois State edged Horizon League foe Youngstown State, 25-22, in the opening game of its third match, before falling in the second game, 25-18.
In the Redbirds' fourth match, ISU swept Mid-American Conference foe Western Michigan, 25-18 and 25-21. The Broncos are coming off a 21-win season in 2007.
Illinois State carried the momentum over to the first game of the final match of the day, when the Redbirds tallied a 25-20 win over Duke in the first game. In game two, the Blue Devils answered with a 25-16 win.
Former Illinois State setter Kelly (Rikli) Kreger served as the Redbirds' head coach in the tournament, while assistant coach Laura Ludwig and director of volleyball operations Christen Garcia were also on the coaching sidelines. ISU was playing for the first time without the services of former head coach Sharon Dingman, who resigned March 21 to accept the same post at Iowa. Notably, setter Jessica Pratapas made her return to the Redbird lineup after sitting out the entire 2007 season rehabilitating a torn ACL.
Illinois State continues its spring season next Saturday (April 5), when the Redbirds travel to Champaign, Ill., to take on host Illinois.
