Sept. 8, 2011
NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State volleyball team will travel to Laramie, Wyo., this weekend, Sept. 9-10, to compete in the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic. The Redbirds will face host, Wyoming, Friday at 1 p.m. (CST) and play Idaho State at 6:30 p.m. (CST). Illinois State will close the tournament against Georgia State Saturday at 12:00 p.m. (CST).
Illinois State enters the weekend with a 6-2 overall record after defeating Western Illinois (25-18, 25-11, 16-25. 25-18) in a non-conference match-up Wednesday. The Redbirds were led by senior Tabitha Visk who recorded a season-high hitting percentage (.500) for 15 kills. Junior LeighAnn Hranka added 14 kills and nine digs. Sophomore Shannon McGlaughlin and freshman Emily Schneider compiled for 14 kills and no errors.
The Redbirds have won their past six matches, including capturing the Skyhawk Invitational championships. Illinois State averages 12.82 kills per set for a team hitting percentage of .213. ISU out blocks its opponents 84.5 to 55.0.
Wyoming starts the 2011 season with a 4-3 overall Record. Junior Jodi Purdy leads the Cowgirls with 69 kills and 77 digs. Setters, sophomore Rachel Keyeys and freshman Whitney Smith, lead the offensive reigns compiling 240 assists on the season. The team returns two starters with the addition of five newcomers. WU finished sixth in the Mountain West conference with an overall record of 22-10.
Idaho State has an overall record of 2-5 after finishing 2-2 at the Utah State Invitational. The Bengals defeated tournament champion Utah State and the Texas A&M, but fell to Texas State and Syracuse. Idaho State is led offensively by freshman Danielle Downs with 76 kills. Junior Breanna Van Every ranks second on the team in kills (71) and digs (52). She earned
all-tournament honors after recording 31 kills, 32 digs and three blocks. The Bengals return two starters and four newcomers after finishing 9-7 in the Big Sky in the 2010 season.
Georgia State has an overall record of 4-4 while facing injury struggles with only eight healthily players heading into the invitational. The Panthers have lost their past three matches including a five set loss to Troy Tuesday. GSU is lead offensively by senior Muki Kangwa with 134 kills, averaging 4.79 kills per set. Sophomore Kaylee McGrew leads the team with 246 assists, and junior Jamie Freeman and sophomore Emily Averbeck both have tallied 1,332 digs on the season. Georgia State is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association and finished with an overall record of 14-14 in the 2010 season. The team returns four starters with the addition of four newcomers to the 2011 roster.
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