Sept. 18, 2009
Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Illinois State (5-7, 0-1 MVC) lost its first Missouri Valley Conference match of the season to Missouri State (8-4, 1-0 MVC), 3-0 (23-25, 19-25, 21-25) Friday night. ISU played the Lady Bears tough in each set, reaching 20 points first in two sets, but couldn't hold off late Missouri State runs.
"I thought we played really well tonight, but we had some trouble finishing the sets," said head coach Melissa Myers. "Through the first 20 points of each set, we made some really nice players, kept our composure offensively and put ourselves in great position. In the last five points of the set, we made some errors and let Missouri State gain some momentum. It is always tough to open conference play on the road, especially against a tough, experienced Missouri State team."
Freshman Angela Rego tied her career-high with 11 kills to lead the ISU attack. Junior Mallory Leggett added nine kills and junior Hailey Kelley had seven. Kelley also had four blocks. Sophomore Kristin Stauter had a match-high 30 set-assists. Senior Kasey Mollerus had 13 digs for the Redbirds.
The first set was a back-and-forth affair with 15 ties and five lead changes. The Redbirds held the early advantage, leading by as many as three after two kills from junior Katie Culbertson. Missouri State used three-straight kills to take a 21-20 lead. A Kelley kill tied the match at 22, but the Lady Bears made the last run of the set to take it, 25-23. Kelley paced the Redbirds with five kills.
Missouri State scored the first three points of the second set, then committed three errors and was blocked to give the Redbirds a one-point lead. The Lady Bears answered with five-straight points, four coming on Redbird errors, and led, 8-4. Missouri State stayed out in front by at least two points, despite four-straight Redbird kills at one point. Missouri State closed the set with a 5-1 run, all on kills, to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Three-straight Lady Bear errors gave ISU an 8-5 lead in the third set. Two kills and a block clawed the Bears back within a point, but a Rego kill stopped the momentum. The Lady Bears kept it close and retook the lead, 16-15. Rego fueled a 4-1 ISU run with three kills to put the `Birds back on top, 19-17. MSU tied the set at 19 and the two teams traded of points. Tied at 21, the Lady Bears claimed the set and the match with four-straight points.
Illinois State visits #20 Wichita State Saturday at 7 p.m.
