Oct. 30, 2010
Box Score
OMAHA, Neb. -
- Despite a remarkable comeback to win the second set, Illinois State (15-11, 5-8 MVC) couldn't defeat Creighton (15-8, 10-3 MVC) Saturday night, falling in four sets (21-25, 27-25, 17-25, 14-25).
Freshman LeighAnn Hranka registered 10 kills, posting double-digit kills in consecutive matches for the first time in her career. Senior Mallory Leggett led the Redbirds with 13 kills to go along with 15 digs. Freshman Shannon McGlaughlin had nine kills and just one error.
Freshman Sarah Fetter made her first-career start at setter, filling in for an injured Kristin Stauter. Fetter recorded career-highs with 25 set-assists, 15 digs and two kills. Sophomore Jenny Menendez led ISU with 20 digs. Junior Laura Wakefield had 18 digs and a career-high 11 set-assists.
"We knew going in that Kristin Stauter wasn't going to play, so we went with a 6-2 rotation with Sarah Fetter and Laura Wakefield handling the setting duties," said ISU head coach Melissa Myers. "Creighton's setter was injured as well, so the match was definitely different than the first time we met. Players get used to a certain setter, so when you switch that player out it changes the flow of the game a little. We can definitely learn some lessons from this match, especially the way we came back in the second set. We played great defense with some big blocks and timely digs."
With the score tied at sixth in the first set, Creighton scored four-straight on two kills and two ISU errors to pull ahead, 10-6. The Bluejays slowly built their lead to seven points, 20-13, but then committed four-straight attack errors, with two coming on Redbird blocks, to cut the deficit down to three. Creighton corrected its offense with three kills, but the Redbirds battled back with three-consecutive points to make the score 23-21. The comeback was stopped with two Bluejay kills to win the set, 25-21. Creighton held a 17-10 advantage in kills and both teams had seven errors in the set.
Allie Oelke had three kills as Creighton opened the second set with a 7-2 lead. Two more kills doubled the Bluejays' lead over Illinois State, 12-6. Creighton had nine kills in its first 12 points. A 4-0 Creighton run doubled the Redbirds' score again, 18-9. Hranka had four kills during a 9-2 run that pulled the Redbirds within two, 20-18, and forcing a Creighton timeout. Creighton built its lead back to three points, but two Bluejay errors and another Hranka kill tied the set for the first time at 22. The two teams traded the next six points, with each earning a set-point advantage, but unable to win the decisive point. A Creighton service error and attack error won the set for ISU, 27-25.
Kills by Visk and Leggett and a Creighton error gave ISU a 3-0 lead in the third set, but Creighton answered with five-straight points. A Hranka kill pulled the Redbirds within one, but a 5-1 Creighton run extended the Bluejays' lead to 12-7. Creighton recorded five kills, three by Megan Bober, during a 6-1 run that brought its lead to 20-11. Kills by Kelley and McGlaughlin pulled the Redbirds within six, 21-15, but Creighton used three kills and an ISU error to win the set, 25-17. Creighton had 16 kills and only two errors for a .326 hitting percentage.
Four Redbird errors helped give Creighton a 6-3 lead in the fourth set. A Kelley kill pulled the Redbirds within a point, 10-8, but Creighton answered with a 9-2 run to take control of the set, 19-10. Creighton recorded four kills and ISU committed four errors during the run. Four kills and two ISU errors won the set and the match for the Bluejays, 25-14. Creighton was efficient in the fourth set as well, recording 13 kills and only three errors for a .333 hitting percentage. Illinois State had eight kills, 10 errors and a -.087 hitting percentage.
Illinois State returns home to host Southern Illinois Friday at 7:05 p.m.
