Sept. 7, 2011
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NORMAL, Ill. -
The Illinois State volleyball team topped Western Illinois in four sets Wednesday night at Redbird Arena. The Redbirds took the first two sets (25-18, 25-11) and lost the third (16-25), before bouncing back in the fourth (25-18) to win the match.
Tabitha Visk and LeighAnn Hranka led the offensive attack combining for 29 kills (Visk-15, Hranka-14). Visk's 15 kills helped her to a new match-high hitting percentage (.500). Defensively, Jenny Menendez and Kristin Stauter headed the Redbirds with 17 and 10 digs, respectively. Stauter set a new match-high in assists, contributing in 41 Illinois State kills.
Hranka led ISU in the first set, pounding out 7 kills with help from Stauter, who assisted on 14 Redbird points. Laura Wakefield aided the attack, serving two four-point runs. Visk added six points of her own, including five kills.
The Redbirds took the second set in dominating fashion with the help from Visk, who served 12 consecutive points. This is the biggest point differential of the season (25-11). Freshman Ciera Lucich and Eliza Smith made their mark as newcomers, combining for four kills (Smith-3, Lucich-1).
ISU fell 25-16 in the third set, converting on just nine of their 39 total attempts (.128). Hranka continued to build on her solid performance as she added three more kills to her total. After replacing Stauter late in the set, freshman Kaitlyn Early added to the Illinois State effort as she hammered her first collegiate kill.
Visk was seven for seven in attacks during the fourth set, contributing to her new match-high of 18.5 points. Stauter added 14 assists while Menendez picked up five digs. The team combined for its highest team hitting percentage (.441) of the match solidifying the win for the Redbirds.
Hranka finished the match with 18 points and nine digs, while Emily Schneider hit .600 from the court (6-10). Smith ended the match hitting a perfect three-for-three with three kills.
The Redbirds travel to Wyoming this weekend to compete in the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic. Illinois State will face Wyoming, Idaho State, and Georgia State throughout the course of the tournament.
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