Sept. 16, 2011
Final Stats
Post-Match Interview with Melissa Myers
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -
After jumping ahead of Missouri State, 2-0, the Illinois State volleyball team was not able to hold its lead and fell to the Bears in five sets, 3-2, (25-21, 25-21, 17-25, 16-25, 8-15) Friday night at the Hammons Student Center. With the loss, the Redbirds' record falls to 8-5 overall and 0-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Shannon McGlaughlin posted a team-best 13 kills, while LeighAnn Hranka added 12 more to the Redbird total of 42. Kristin Stauter dished out 23 assists, and Jenny Menendez recorded 19 digs.
In the first set, the Redbirds took a 7-3 lead before the Bears battled back to tie the match, 8-8. The two teams traded points until Stauter served back-to-back aces to give ISU a 17-14 lead. Missouri State cut Illinois State's lead to two points, 21-19, but Brooklyn Hlafka's two kills late in the set helped the Redbirds win, 25-21.
MSU jumped ahead of ISU, 5-2, in the second set, but the Redbirds fought back and took their first lead of the set with a kill by Hranka, 10-9. Illinois State kept the momentum on its side of the net and increased its lead by six, 16-10. Missouri State was not able to shorten the gap, as Hranka's five kills gave ISU a 25-21 advantage.
Missouri State, determined to come back, jumped ahead 11-3 in the third set. Illinois State answered and got within three points, 15-12, but was unable to withstand the Bears. MSU won the third set, 25-17, forcing a fourth set.
The Bears carried the momentum from the third set into the fourth set, as they took a quick 10-4 lead. Despite McGlaughlin's three kills, the Redbirds were unable to answer and fell in the fourth set, 25-16, tying the match and forcing a fifth and final set.
In the fifth set, McGlaughlin recorded a kill to tie the set, 4-4, but MSU answered, jumping ahead 7-4. ISU got within two points, but the Bears continued to battle, scoring four-straight points to make the score 11-5. Illinois State was not able to respond and fell 15-8 in the deciding set.
The Redbirds return to the court Saturday to take on Wichita State for their second Valley contest of the weekend. The match is scheduled to begin at 7p.m., in Wichita, Kan.
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