Sept. 4, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
Redbird Classic Tournament Central
Redbird Classic Match Notes 
The Illinois State volleyball team (2-2) will continue its four-match home stand this weekend, when the Redbirds host three matches in the annual Redbird Classic. ISU will open play against Western Carolina Friday at 7:05 p.m., and take on both Oakland (noon) and Western Michigan (7:05 p.m.) Saturday.
The tournament begins Friday at 5 p.m., when Oakland (Mich.) and WMU face off in the first match of the evening. The Redbirds and Catamounts will wrap up play in the nightcap. Saturday's action begins at 10 a.m., when WMU and Western Carolina start the action. ISU will face Oakland at noon, followed by WCU versus Oakland, beginning at 5 p.m. The Redbirds and Broncos will collide in the tournament finale at 7:05 p.m. Saturday.
"We are looking forward to the opportunity to host some very good volleyball teams in the Redbird Classic this weekend," said head coach Melissa Myers. "Our players were able to get a home match under their belts Tuesday night, and we want to build on some of the good things we did (against Northern Illinois). We've also got some things we need to shore up and improve upon. We need to be more consistent and cut down on unforced errors, particularly behind the service line.
"Most teams are still trying to find an identity this early in the season, so we are looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to continue to improve this weekend."
ISU tallied its best offensive performance of the season against the Huskies, recording team season-highs in kills (70), attack attempts (191), set-assists (65) and service aces (6). The Redbirds also compiled a season-high 81 digs in the five-set (25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 23-25 and 15-11) win. Junior outside hitter Peggy Riessen had a standout match, collecting a career-high 24 kills and 25 points, along with 17 digs, for her first double-double of the season.
Western Carolina is 0-4 on the season after dropping all four decisions last weekend in Lexington, Ky. The Catamounts were swept by host Stephen F. Austin (Aug. 29), before losing all three matches of the Kentucky Classic against No. 13 Wisconsin, host Kentucky and Pittsburgh. WCU is led by freshman outside hitter Brittany Lysik, who is averaging a team-high 3.0 kills per set heading into this weekend's action. Bloomington, Ill., native Liz Rondone, the Catamounts' starting libero, is averaging a team-best 4.77 digs per set.
Oakland is off to a 2-1 start this season after defeating both Sacred Heart and host Niagara at last weekend's Niagara Tournament. The Grizzlies' loss came in a three-set sweep against Missouri Valley Conference foe Southern Illinois. Amy Golem has been OU's offensive catalyst, totaling 30 kills (2.97 kills per set) through the first three matches of the season.
Defensively, Oakland is averaging an impressive 16.36 digs per set, led by libero Lauren Duquette's 5.64 per set average. The Grizzlies are coached by Rob Beam, a former two-year (2005-06) assistant coach at Illinois State
Western Michigan went 2-0 at last weekend's Aquafina Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., and has not dropped a single-set this season. The Broncos swept both Pacific and UAB at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, on the campus of the University of Florida. Offensively, WMU is led by Michelle Moore and Ashley Vogl, who both enter the Redbird Classic averaging more than four kills per set. The Broncos are hitting .288 as a team in their previous two matches.
There will be a total of five Bloomington, Ill., natives on the court or sidelines at the Redbird Classic. Illinois State's Amy Olson, Katie Seyller and Kristin Stauter all hail from the Twin Cities, and stayed close to home for their college volleyball careers. But Rondone, a Central Catholic High School product, and WMU's Tara Lowell, a graduate of Tri-Valley High School, are also both Bloomington natives.
The Redbird Classic represents ISU's 28th home tournament in the past 35 seasons, including the sixth in the last seven campaigns. ISU owns a 7-5 all-time advantage against Western Michigan, but will be facing both Western Carolina and Oakland for the first time in history.
