Oct. 6, 2011
NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State volleyball team (10-8, 2-4 MVC) will host Missouri Valley Conference opponents Evansville and Southern Illinois. The Redbirds will take on Evansville, Friday at 7:05 p.m. (CST) and host “Pack the Arena” night against Southern Illinois Saturday at 7:05 p.m. (CST).
Illinois State is coming of a 1-1 finish after falling to Creighton (Sept. 30) in four sets and sweeping Drake (Oct. 1) for ISU’s first three-set win against a Valley opponent this season. The team marked three new team records in a three set match including kills (45), assists (43) and digs (58), Junior libero Jenny Menendez also set a new three-set individual record with 17 digs. Sophomores LeighAnn Hranka and Shannon McGlaughlin led the Redbirds offensively after combining for 55 kills and 60 percent of the teams kills in two matches. Hranka and McGlaughlin each posted a double-double (digs/kills) and recorded double-digit kills in both matches. Senior setter Kristin Stauter compiled two season-highs after notching eight kills at Creighton, followed by five kills and no errors for a .714 hitting percentage. Illinois State continues to be consistent on the defensive end, ranking second in the Valley in opponent hitting percentage (.165) and third in blocking (2.28 per set).
“I don’t think you can ever take a night off in the Missouri Valley,” said head coach Melissa Myers. “Every match is going to be tough and it’s what makes the team better. It is important for us to earn points and not expect teams to make mistakes.”
Evansville is caught-up in a six-match losing streak, with its most recent loss against Southern Illinois (3-2). The Purple Aces have an overall record of 11-9 and a 1-4 record in the MVC. The team is led by seniors Brooke Maher and Kaisi Nixon with 230 and 194 kills, respectively. Maher and Nixon average more than 2.5 kills per set and a hitting percentage above .200. Sophomore Jenn Murphy started in the setter position against SIU instead of senior Ellen Sawin who played at the hitter position. Murphy posted a career-high 51 assists and Sawin marked a career-high 13 kills.
Southern Illinois has an overall record of 8-6 and 2-3 record in the MVC after defeating Evansville. Junior Laura Thole and sophomore Jessica Whitehead control the Saluki offense, averaging three or more kills per set. Whitehead leads the team with 198 kills and Thole has recorded 189. Junior setter Rachel Brown has compiled 587 assists for a 10.12 assist per set ratio this season. Brown has improved her season assist average from 9.45 assists per set to 10.12 assists per set in the past two weeks.
The Illinois State Athletics Department will host "Pack the Arena" night as the Redbirds take on SIU. Coupons for admission to the game will be complimentary, thanks to Redbird Athletics sponsors Radio Bloomington, Papa John's, Alamo II Bookstore, McDonalds and Hanson's Dry Cleaners.
Fans can pick-up their complimentary coupons at sponsor locations which include Radio Bloomington, Papa John’s, Alamo II Bookstore, McDonald’s and Hanson Dry Cleaners. Tickets can also be printed from home from GoRedbirds.com or patrons can text the keyword “PACK” to 7-1857 to receive a coupon to their mobile phone to show at the gate.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
