Nov. 4, 2010
REDBIRDS-PURPLE ACES SERIES
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Evansville, 30-3. The two teams have met twice each year since 1994. Illinois State won the first 24 meetings, including 14 straight-set victories. Evansville beat ISU in straight-sets in 2006 for its first win. The Redbirds won the next five matches and lost in five sets at Evansville last season. ISU came back from down 2-0 to win in five sets in the last match at Redbird Arena. Last month, Evansville swept the Redbirds at home, marking just the third win and second sweep for the Purple Aces.
REDBIRDS-SALUKIS SERIES
Illinois State leads the all-time series with Southern Illinois, 62-6. The series with Southern Illinois is the longest in Illinois State volleyball history and began in 1974. Illinois State has posted winning streaks of 24, 15, 13, six and four games throughout the series. Southern Illinois has beaten the Redbirds in consecutive matches just twice, including a current two-match winning streak. SIU's win at Redbird Arena last season snapped a 13-match losing streak. SIU's win at Davies Gym last month was its first home win over ISU since 1981.
BIG WEEKEND FOR REDBIRDS
Illinois State enters the final five matches of the MVC regular season in eighth place in the conference standings at 5-8. The Redbirds enter this weekend just behind Evansville and Southern Illinois, who are both 5-7. With matches against league leader Northern Iowa and last-place teams Bradley and Indiana State left for ISU after this weekend, wins this weekend would be big for ISU's push for the State Farm MVC Tournament. Southern Illinois and Evansville have a slightly tougher road to the tournament, with matches against Missouri State, Wichita State, Creighton and Drake left on their schedules.
REDBIRDS 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 equaled the win total of all of 2009 (13). 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.
LEGGETT DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Last season, senior Mallory Leggett became just the fifth player in school history to amass 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. She continues her assault on the Redbird record books, currently ranked fourth in career digs (1,351) and sixth in career kills (1,448). Leggett has recorded 11 double-doubles (kills-digs) this season, including the last three-consecutive matches.
VISK-ICIENCY
Junior Tabitha Visk has been efficient on offense all season, ranking ninth in the Valley with a .298 hitting percentage. Visk has recorded a hitting percentage above .400 in 10 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.
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.
