Sept. 20, 2008
Final Stats
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
The Illinois State volleyball team (8-5, 2-0 MVC) capped off a record-setting weekend with its 900th all-time win Saturday, recording a 25-19, 25-20 and 25-22 sweep over host Southern Illinois (9-2, 1-1 MVC) at Davies Gym. The Redbirds started out 2-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play for the second-consecutive season, marking the first time ISU has accomplished that feat since the 1997 and 1998 campaigns. It was also Illinois State's 60th all-time win against Southern Illinois, and the 33rd-consecutive regular-season victory for the Redbirds over the Salukis.
Illinois State became just the 11th school in NCAA Division I history to equal 900 wins, joining UCLA, Nebraska, MVC foe Missouri State, BYU, Long Beach State, Penn State, Hawaii, Texas, Minnesota and Texas-Arlington.
The Redbirds were led by Peggy Riessen's 11 kills, while senior Erin Lindsey recorded a double-double with 36 set-assists and 14 digs, along with four kills. Kasey Mollerus' 17 digs led the Redbirds' defensive charge. Southern Illinois was led by Jennifer Berwanger's nine kills.
ISU enjoyed an 11-5 lead in blocks. The Redbirds also held statistical advantages in kills (43-32), set-assists (40-31) and service aces (3-2). The Salukis out-dug the `Birds, 74-67.
"This was a nice win for us," said head coach Melissa Myers. "To win in three sets again is huge, especially on the road. There was a large crowd and a great atmosphere here, and it was good for our players to experience that. It is always fun to go into an opposing gym with a large crowd, and find a way to deal with the adversity and challenges that come along with it.
"We still have a long way to go. We committed too many service errors at key points in the match. But as long as we continue to learn and grow as a team from those mistakes, it will help us down the road. We know that things are going to continue to get tougher in Valley play. It is going to be important to keep improving, and to control the things we can control."
Myers was honored to be associated with a program that now has its named further etched in the NCAA record books. .
"It is a great honor for me to be a part of history at Illinois State," Myers said. "900 wins is very impressive for a program, and I have obviously only been a part of a few of those victories. The coaches and players that preceded this team and me had the bulk of those wins, and it is really about what they accomplished. Our team is carrying on the tradition, and it is a privilege to have that responsibility."
Illinois State had seven blocks in the opening set, and pulled away late for a 25-19 win. The Redbirds jumped out to an early 5-1 lead, forcing SIU into its first timeout just six points into the match. The Salukis began making their run out of the break, capitalizing on a 9-5 spurt to take their first lead of the match, 11-10. ISU re-claimed the advantage at 12-11 following a service ace by Lindsey, and extended its advantage to four, 17-13, after M.C. Richmond and Hailey Kelley assisted on a block.
The Salukis called another timeout, and settled for trading points with the Redbirds over the ensuing 10 possessions. After SIU trimmed the Redbirds' lead to three (22-19), Myers used her first timeout, and ISU responded with a 3-0 run to end the set. Leggett had two blocks in the spree, including a solo termination to force set point at 24-19.
Riessen had five second-set kills to lead the Redbirds to a 25-20 win, and 2-0 lead in the best-of-five. Southern Illinois claimed the early 5-2 advantage in the opening stages of the second set, but ISU quickly knotted the score at 5-5 after forcing back-to-back Saluki attack errors. The Redbirds built an 11-8 lead with an ensuing 6-3 run. Katie Culbertson and Kelley each had kills in the stretch.
After forcing the Salukis into their first timeout, ISU continued to put pressure on the hosts, extending its advantage to 19-14 after Riessen contributed a kill through SIU's attempted block. But the Salukis fought back with a 4-2 spurt, and cut the Redbird lead to just three, 21-18. Illinois State finished the frame on a 4-2 spree, capped off by back-to-back kills by Lindsey to give the Redbirds the win.
Illinois State carried the late momentum over to the third and final frame, jumping out to a 12-5 lead behind the serving of Mallory Leggett. She approached the service line with ISU leading 8-4, and served the ensuing five points, leading the Redbirds on a 4-1 run. ISU built its largest lead of eight points (17-9) after Riessen and Culbertson recorded a block, and forced the Salukis into their final timeout of the frame.
Illinois State reserves Amy Olson, Laura Wakefield and Tabitha Visk entered the match mid-way through the set, and Visk made an immediate impact, recording two kills , including one to give the Redbirds a 22-16 lead. After ISU forced match point at 24-20, Southern Illinois won two-straight points to pull within 24-22. But Myers called a timeout, and substituted Riessen back into the match. She secured the sweep and 25-22 set three win with a cross-court kill.
Illinois State will return to Redbird Arena for the home MVC opener Friday against Northern Iowa at 7:05 p.m.
