Sept. 19, 2008
Final Stats
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -
Sophomore middle blocker Katie Culbertson recorded a career-high 10 kills on a .562 hitting percentage to lead the Illinois State volleyball team (7-5, 1-0 MVC) to a three-set sweep (26-24, 25-21 and 25-21) over host Evansville (6-8, 0-1) at the Carson Center Friday night. The Redbirds have now won back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference opening matches for the first time since the 1997 and 1998 seasons.
Sophomore outside hitter Mallory Leggett joined Culbertson with 10 kills, while junior outside Peggy Riessen tallied nine. Senior Erin Lindsey dished out 36 set-assists, and Kasey Mollerus, Leggett and Riessen each contributed 11 digs. Evansville was led by Sally Kulupka's nine kills. ISU held statistical advantages in kills (44-39), set-assists (43-39), digs (50-42) blocks (6-2) and points (53-42). The sweep marked ISU's first three-set win at the Carson Center since 2005.
"It's nice to get our first conference win, particularly on the road against an aggressive team like Evansville," said head coach Melissa Myers. "Winning in three sets is going to help our recovery process and preparation for tomorrow's match against Southern Illinois.
"We knew Evansville was going to come out strong, and they did. We expected some long rallies, and they did a great job making some nice digs and keeping the ball in play. We gave them seven points on errors early on in that first set, but we really re-grouped, got into a groove and began to play our game. It was a great night for Katie (Culbertson), and Erin (Lindsey) made some nice decisions."
Leggett and Riessen's eight combined kills allowed Illinois State to fight off an early Evansville surge, and record a 26-24, extra-point win in the first set. Both teams traded points for the initial eight possessions, before Evansville completed a 4-0 run to take a 7-4 lead. The Redbirds were forced into their first timeout three points later, trailing 9-5. Leggett's service ace helped the Redbirds trim the lead to three (13-10), but the Purple Aces fought back with three-of the next four points to force another timeout, clinging to their biggest lead of five, 16-11.
ISU answered with a 5-1 flurry, and cut the Evansville lead to just one, 17-16. Riessen had two kills in the stretch. The Redbirds claimed their first lead (18-17) since early in the set two points later, after Hailey Kelley and Lindsey assisted on a block, and the Aces were forced into a hitting error. But Evansville re-claimed the lead twice in the ensuing six points. The `Birds countered with a 3-0 spurt to take a 23-21 lead, and forced the Purple Aces into their last timeout of the frame.
The Redbirds forced set point at 24-21 following a service ace by Lindsey, but needed five more possessions to close out the frame and take a 1-0 in the best-of-five. Evansville fought off three set points, before Leggett and Riessen broke a 24-24 tie with back-to-back kills to give ISU the 26-24 win.
The Redbirds built a commanding eight-point lead mid-way through the second set, but a late run by the hosts forced ISU to hold on for a tight 25-21 lead. Illinois State broke an 8-8 tie with a quick 4-0 spurt, and forced Evansville into its first timeout trailing by four, 12-8. Culbertson had one kill and an assisted block in the spurt. The Redbirds continued the run, eventually taking their largest lead of eight points, 21-13, after another Culbertson kill.
But the Aces answered with a 4-0 spree to pull back within five, 22-17, and forced Myers into her first timeout of the frame. The Redbird lead was cut to just three (23-20) after another 3-0 run by Evansville, and Myers burned her final timeout of the frame. ISU put the finishing touches on the 25-21 set two win with a kill by Riessen, and a forced attack error by Evansville.
Illinois State jumped out to an 8-3 lead early in the decisive third set, forcing Evansville head coach Mike Swan into his first timeout of the frame. But the Purple Aces began to chip away at the Redbirds' advantage, and tied the set, 14-14, after a tip kill by April Lubrecht. Evansville led four times in the next 10 possessions, before ISU stretched its lead to two points, 21-19.
The Redbirds held a 23-20 lead when Evansville called its final timeout. Kelley followed with a solo block to force match point, and M.C. Richmond's cross-court kill two points later secured ISU's seventh victory of the season.
Illinois State will complete its Valley-opening road swing Saturday, when the Redbirds take on host Southern Illinois (9-1) at Davies Gym beginning at 7:05 p.m. The Salukis swept the Sycamores in their first MVC match Friday.
