Aug. 20, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
Aggressive non-conference scheduling, in an effort to have greater representation in the NCAA Tournament, has been a major topic of discussion among the 10 head volleyball coaches in the Missouri Valley Conference the past few years. Illinois State took full advantage of those ideals in 2007, stringing together a schedule that resulted in a Rich Kern Percentage Index (RKPI) that reached as high as 46, and resulted in an eventual at-large berth in the University Park, Penn., Regional at Ann Arbor, Mich.
ISU's 2008 schedule could accomplish similar results, as new head coach Melissa Myers inherited a slate that includes a total of 10 matches against 2007 NCAA Tournament participants. The 29-match regular-season schedule features 12 non-conference foes from 10 leagues, plus a full, home-and-away Valley slate.
The State Farm MVC Tournament (Nov. 26-29) will be played at Charles Koch Arena, on the campus of Wichita State. The event will be played over a four-day window for the first time in the history of the tournament.
ISU opens the season at the Panther Invitational in Milwaukee, where the `Birds will take on two NCAA Tournament teams on the opening day of the season (Aug. 29). Illinois State opens the campaign against 2007 "Sweet 16" participant Iowa State, before colliding with Ole Miss, who advanced to the NCAA's for the second-consecutive season, falling to BYU in the first-round.
The Redbirds will wrap up the two-day Panther Invitational against host Milwaukee on Aug. 30. The Panthers were upset in the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament last season, and narrowly missed out on an NCAA bid. Milwaukee's at-large resume included 26 wins, with losses only to nationally-ranked Wisconsin, Cleveland State and Valparaiso. The Panthers were 3-0 against the Big East Conference, and owned wins against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Valley. Milwaukee was ranked in the top-40 in the NCAA's RPI much of the season.
The Redbirds' home opener will be against Northern Illinois Sept. 2, marking the ninth-consecutive season the Redbirds and Huskies have met in a non-conference match. ISU will then host the annual Redbird Classic, facing Western Carolina (Sept. 5), Oakland (Sept. 6) and Western Michigan (Sept. 6). WMU won 21 matches in 2007, but was upset in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Illinois State will wrap up non-conference tournament play in the Chicago Invitational at Mother McCauley High School, where the Redbirds will begin the event against Louisville (Sept. 12), who advanced to the 2007 NCAA Tournament, but was ousted by Middle Tennessee State in the first-round.
The next day (Sept. 13), the Redbirds will take on defending NCAA Division I national champion Penn State. The Nittany Lions welcome back all seven starters from a team that went 34-2 overall. PSU did not drop a single-game in the NCAA Tournament until the national final, where they outlasted Stanford in five games.
Illinois State will wrap up the Chicago Invitational against host Illinois-Chicago, who returns all seven starters from an injury-decimated team that went 15-16 overall in 2007. The Flames are coached by Nancy Mueller, the sister of former Redbird standout Julie-Mueller Paska.
In-state rival Illinois invades Redbird Arena Sept. 16, marking the second time in the past three seasons the schools have met in non-conference play. The Fighting Illini returns five starters, plus libero Ashley Edinger, from a 2007 team that went 16-14 overall with an 8-12 mark in Big Ten play.
For the second-consecutive season, Illinois State will open Valley play with a road trip to Evansville (Sept. 19) and Southern Illinois (Sept. 20), respectively. The Purple Aces, one year after qualifying for the 2006 State Farm MVC Tournament, finished the 2007 campaign 14-15 (7-11 MVC), finishing seventh in the Valley's regular season standings. UE returns six starters this season, but will be without the services of back-to-back MVC Libero of the Year Julie Walroth, who was lost to graduation.
Southern Illinois returns all six starters, including libero Kristy Elswick, from a team that finished with its best record in five seasons (15-16, 7-11 MVC) and qualified for the State Farm MVC Tournament for the first time since 2002. Junior Chandra Roberson (All-MVC second-team) and sophomore Jennifer Berwanger (MVC All-Freshman Team) are the Salukis' two returning all-conference performers.
Northern Iowa visits Redbird Arena Sept. 26 in the Redbirds' MVC home opener, pitting the first rematch of last season's State Farm MVC Tournament final. The Panthers lost starters Laura Rowen, Danielle Brazda and Kristin Belzung, but return senior middle blocker Ashten Stelken and junior outside hitter Shannon Aschoff, along with right side hitter Amy Sampson and libero Ellie Blankenship, from a team that went 22-11 and captured the Valley's automatic NCAA Tournament bid. In all, the Panthers return 10 letterwinners from last year's squad.
The first installment of the I-74 rivalry will take place the following night (Sept. 27) when Bradley visits Redbird Arena. The Braves, who will be under the leadership of first-year head coach Sean Burdette, are coming off last season's 3-28 (2-16 MVC) campaign with four returning starters and nine total letterwinners.
ISU will hit the road the following weekend for what has historically been the most challenging road swing in the Valley, visiting Wichita State at Charles Koch Arena (Oct. 3) and Missouri State at the Hammons Student Center (Oct. 4). The Shockers were the only Valley team to advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season, sweeping Western Kentucky before seeing their season end against second-ranked Nebraska.
The Valley's 2007 regular-season champions (27-6, 17-1 MVC) return four starters, including libero Kelly Broussard, and welcome back a total of nine letterwinners. The Shockers lost two-time MVC Player of the Year Sara Lungren, but still have the services of juniors Stephanie Tokarz, Emily Stockman and Melissa Granville, along with senior middle blocker Angela Jakubov.
Missouri State will be facing the Redbirds at home for the first time since ISU ended its State Farm MVC Tournament run in the quarterfinals last November. The Bears return three starters, including libero Nikki Vandepopulier, from a team that went 25-8 overall (14-4 MVC), and garnered an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament for the second-consecutive season. Key returnees include junior outside hitter Sara Staubach and reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Year Shayla Patrick.
The Redbirds will return home Oct. 10 to face Creighton, who narrowly missed out on an NCAA Tournament bid last season. The Bluejays, who have rattled off five-consecutive, four-game wins over ISU, welcome back four starters, plus libero Bianca Rivera, from a team that went 21-10 (14-4 MVC) before falling to conference champion UNI in the State Farm MVC Tournament semifinals. Middle blocker Kelly Goc was lost to graduation, but CU will welcome back Goc's 2006 counterpart, middle blocker Jessica Houts, along with right side/outside hitter Allie Oelke, middle blocker Lauren Bloemke, outside hitter Sarah Schulze and setter Korie Lebeda.
The following night (Oct. 11), the Redbirds will host Drake and its first-year head coach, Phil McDaniel. The Bulldogs went 7-23 (4-14 MVC) last season, and returns nine letterwinners, including four starters. Outside hitter Angela Bys, who averaged 4.13 kills per game last season, highlights the returning Bulldog lineup.
The Redbirds will then travel to Indiana State on Oct. 17. The Sycamores will be mentored by first year head coach Traci Dahl, and look to improve upon last season's 3-28 mark, which included a winless (0-18) Valley slate. Indiana State returns all six starters from last year's team.
The following night (Oct. 18), the Redbirds will take a break from conference play, and travel to Edwardsville, Ill., for a match against host SIU-Edwardsville. The Cougars recently became an NCAA Division I affiliate, and will be a full-time member of the Ohio Valley Conference. SIU-Edwardsville finished the 2007 season with a 27-7 record as a Division II participant. It will be the first-ever meeting between the `Birds and Cougars.
The second-half of Valley play begins Oct. 23 against Bradley. The Redbirds and Braves will be playing in East Peoria, Ill., at Illinois Central College. Five of ISU's final eight league matches will be at Redbird Arena, including the season-ending homestand against Evansville and Southern Illinois.
Thursday's 12 Topics in 12 Days installment will break down the 2008 major rules changes instituted by the NCAA.
