Nov. 18, 2010
Listen to a special edition of The Melissa Myers Show, featuring each of the seniors.
REDBIRDS-SYCAMORES SERIES
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Indiana State, 48-6. After Indiana State won the first meeting in 1973, Illinois State won 25-straight matches. The Redbirds have winning streaks of eight and six matches and have won the last four matches over the Sycamores. Indiana State has never won consecutive matches over the Redbirds and the Sycamores' last win cane in 2008.
REDBIRDS CONTROL TOURNAMENT FATE
Despite two road losses last weekend, Illinois State still controls its own fate in regards to the State Farm MVC Tournament heading into the final weekend of the regular season. The Redbirds host Indiana State on Friday in their final regular season match. A win over the Sycamores would secure ISU a spot in the conference tournament. Even with the loss, the Redbirds can clinch a bid if Southern Illinois or Evansville lose either one of their final two matches. ISU is in contention for the fifth or sixth seeds in the tournament. A win over Indiana State and a Drake loss or a loss to Indiana State and two Drake losses would clinch the fifth seed for the Redbirds.
LEGGETT CLIMBS RECORD BOOK
Senior Mallory Leggett continues to climb up the Redbird record books in her final season. Her first dig against Southern Illinois (11/5) moved het past former teammate Erin Lindsey for third place on the ISU all-time digs list (1,394). Leggett is currently fifth in career kills (1,496). Last season, Leggett became just the fifth player in school history to amass 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career.
VISK-ICIENCY
Junior Tabitha Visk has been efficient on offense all season, ranking seventh in the Valley with a .307 hitting percentage. Visk has recorded a hitting percentage above .400 in 11 matches. She had a career-high 21 kills and four errors on 37 attacks for a .459 hitting percentage against Drake. Visk had eight kills against Texas Tech and nine kills against No. 15 Colorado State, committing just one error in each match. She had a 13 kills and one error against Miami University for a career-high .632 hitting percentage.
REDBRIDS UPSET LADY BEARS
Illinois State pulled off an upset Oct. 22, sweeping Missouri State. The win snapped a six-match losing streak to the Lady Bears and was ISU's first win over Missouri State at home since 2004. Illinois State has beaten Missouri State four times in the last 23 meetings.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Illinois State has shown a big turnaround from last season, having already surpassed the win total of 2009 and ensuring a winning season. Through the first 14 matches of 2009, Illinois State was 4-9 with six straight-set losses. This season, ISU was 11-3 through its first 14 matches with seven straight-set wins. The Redbirds picked up their 10th win in their 13th match this year; a feat that took 23 matches in 2009. ISU won 10 non-conference matches this year, the most since 1992.
GETTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
Illinois State achieved something this year that the program hasn't since Michael Keaton was Batman - start a season 4-0. Illinois State won its first four matches of the season for the first time since 1992 and just the eighth time in school history (1974, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1992, 2010).
REDBIRDS WIN CORVALLIS INVITATIONAL TITLE
Illinois State won the 2010 Corvallis Invitational title to start the season. Senior Mallory Leggett and freshman Shannon McGlaughlin were named to the all-tournament team, combining for 93 of ISU's 170 kills in the three matches. Leggett was the tournament MVP and McGlaughlin's performance earned her the first MVC Freshman of the Week Award this season. Both players had double-digit kills in every match and the combined for 17 kills in ISU's first-set win over Portland.
