Oct. 1, 2009
| ILLINOIS STATE (6-9, 1-3 MVC) VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (12-1, 2-1 MVC) |
| Date |
October 2 // 7 p.m. |
| Location |
Davies Gym // Carbondale, Ill. |
| Radio |
WJBC |
| Video |
None |
| Live Stats |
SIUSalukis.com |
| Match Notes |
Illinois State // Southern Illinois |
| ILLINOIS STATE (6-9, 1-3 MVC) VS. EVANSVILLE (8-7, 1-2 MVC) |
| Date |
October 3 // 7 p.m. |
| Location |
Carson Center // Evansville, Ind. |
| Radio |
WJBC |
| Video |
None |
| Live Stats |
None |
| Match Notes |
Illinois State // Evansville |
Redbirds-Salukis Series
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Southern Illinois, 61-5. The series began in 1974 and ISU won the first six meetings before SIU logged its first win in 1977. After four more Redbird wins, the Salukis won consecutive matches for the first time in 1981. Since then, ISU has won 51 of the last 53 matches, including 36-straight regular-season matches. Southern Illinois’ last regular season win was Oct. 12, 1990 and the Salukis’ last win overall came in the 2002 State Farm MVC Tournament. ISU has 12-straight over SIU, sweeping the season series the last six years.
Redbirds-Purple Aces Series
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Evansville, 29-1. The two teams have met twice annually since 1994, when the Purple Aces joined the Valley. The Redbirds swept the season series every year until 2006, when the Purple Aces claimed their first victory in straight-sets at home. ISU has won five-straight since then.
Mollerus Digs It
Senior libero Kasey Mollerus has been a fixture on the Illinois State back row the past four years. Mollerus’ diligent defensive work has made her Illinois State’s career digs lead in three and a half seasons. Mollerus surpassed Chris Rehor-Federico (1,806) with a season-high 25 digs against Drake Sept. 25. Her record-setting dig set up ISU’s eighth point in the fourth set. She has accumulated more than 450 digs in each of the last three seasons and is halfway there this year. She is also the ISU all-time leader in digs per set (4.57).
Leggett Makes It Happen
With players lost to graduation and injuries, junior Mallory Leggett entered the 2009 season as Illinois State’s most proven offensive weapon. Through 15 matches, Leggett has lived up to that billing, leading the Redbirds in kills (183), kills per set (3.39) aces (23) and points (217.0). Leggett has recorded double-digit kills in 11 matches, including the first six of the season and the last three-consecutive. Usually this season, as Leggett’s production goes, so do the Redbirds. She is averaging 10.6 attacks per set and has had double-digit kills in five ISU wins.
Here We Go, Rego, Here We Go
Freshman Angela Rego has emerged as a solid offensive contributor in her first year as a Redbird. Rego is third on the team in kills (109) and has six double-digit kill matches. Rego had two or fewer errors in four of those six matches, including a career-high 16 kills and just two errors against Drake. She had 11 kills and no errors on 23 swings against Wake Forest for an ISU season-best .478 hitting percentage. She is averaging 2.80 kills per set in Valley play with three double-digit kill matches. Rego is also tied for fourth on the team with 21 blocks.
