Aug. 29, 2009
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NORMAL, Ill. -
Sophomore Tabitha Visk was one of three players with double-digit kills to lead Illinois State (2-0) past Texas Arlington (0-2), 3-1 (25-17, 25-13, 21-25, 25-21) in fourth match of the Redbird Classic Saturday afternoon.
After recording double-digit kills for the first time in her career in the season-opener Friday, Visk continued to fuel the Redbird attack with a career-high 15 kills against the Mavericks. She also added a career-best 13 digs and four blocks. Junior Mallory Leggett had 11 kills, her second-straight match in double-figures, and 15 digs. Freshman Angela Rego recorded double-digit kills for the first time in her career with 10. The trio accounted for 36 of the Redbirds' 55 kills in the match.
Sophomore Kristin Stauter started for the first time at setter and recorded career-highs of 34 set-assists and eight digs in the first three sets. Senior Jessica Pratapas came in at setter for the final set and had 15 set-assists to clinch the win. Senior Kasey Mollerus had a match-high 17 digs.
Bianca Sauls led UT Arlington with 19 kills and five blocks and Raegan Daniel had 30 set-assists. The Mavericks recorded a .096 hitting percentage as a team.
Five different Redbirds recorded kills as they jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the first set. UT Arlington cut the deficit down to five, but a pair of kills form Leggett, a service ace from freshman Jenny Menendez and a UTA error extended the Redbird lead to 16-7. The cushion remained at least seven points for the rest of the set and a Menendez ace and Leggett kill secured the win.
The Redbirds led the entire second set as well. Holding just a four-point lead midway through the set, ISU outscored the Mavericks 11-3 for the win. Four different players recorded kills and UT Arlington committed five errors during the run.
UT Arlington led the entire third set to force a fourth, which was the most tightly-contested of the match, featuring six ties and three lead changes. UT Arlington started out with the advantage and the Redbirds led for the first time at 8-7. Back-to-back kills by Pratapas and senior Katie Seyller stretched the lead to 16-11 and ISU held onto at least a three-point edge the rest of the way.
Oral Roberts defeated Gardner-Webb, 3-0, to set up a battle of unbeaten teams in the final match of the Redbird Classic. The Redbirds and Golden Eagles with face off at 7:05 p.m. UT Arlington and Gardner-Webb play at 5 p.m.
