Sept. 19, 2009
Box Score
WICHITA, Kan. -
Illinois State (5-8, 0-2 MVC) could not match the powerful offense of No. 20 Wichita State (11-1, 2-0 MVC) losing in straight-sets (19-25, 18-25, 9-25) in Koch Arena Saturday night. Despite having more kills over the first two sets, ISU was hampered by errors and the Shockers' offense broke out in the third set for 18 kills.
"Our effort in the first two sets was very similar to last night. We hung with a very tough Wichita State for about 17 or 18 points before they pulled away," said ISU head coach Melissa Myers. "Wichita State showed why it is a top-25 team and was picked to win the conference.
Junior Mallory Leggett led the Redbirds with 11 kills and added five digs. Sophomore Tabitha Visk had eight kills and four digs. Sophomore Kristin Stauter had 22 set-assists and a team-high nine digs. Senior Kasey Mollerus recorded eight digs, leaving her just 13 shy of tying the ISU all-time record heading into the conference-opener next weekend.
ISU had 31 kills in the match, but 19 attack errors and five service errors proved costly. Wichita State had 42 kills and just five attack errors, recording a .411 hitting percentage in the match. The Shockers also had eight blocks, the Redbirds had none.
The loss was ISU's third to a nationally-ranked team this season and dropped the `Birds to 0-2 to start the conference season for the first time since 2006.
Visk had four kills to give Illinois State a 6-4 lead in the opening set. Back-to-back kills by Leggett and junior Katie Culbertson gave ISU a one-point lead, but three Redbird attack errors and a block put the Shockers on top, 13-10. The Redbirds battled back and a kill from junior Hailey Kelley gave ISU a 17-16 edge. Wichita State then went on a 9-2 run to take the set, recording four kills and two aces. The Redbirds had 13 kills in the set, but had as many attack errors (9) as the Shockers had kills.
Four-straight kills helped the Shockers build a 5-3 lead in the second set. Four Redbird attack errors fueled a 6-0 Shocker run that put them ahead, 13-6. A Leggett kill pulled the Redbirds with three, 18-15, but the Shockers put together another run at the end of the set, 6-2, to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Shockers' offense came out strong in the third set, recording nine kills and scoring the first eight points to build a 12-1 lead. A 7-0 run later in the set, composed of three kills, two blocks and an ace, stretched the lead to 20-3. The Shockers had 16 kills before they committed their first error and finished the set with a .567 hitting percentage.
Illinois State hosts Drake in its first MVC home match Friday at 7:05 p.m.
