Illinois State tops rival Bradley 3-1

[September 29, 2008]  NORMAL -- Senior setter Erin Lindsey had 33 set assists, 13 digs and five blocks, and was joined by Peggy Riessen (20 kills, 15 digs) and M.C. Richmond (11 kills, 15 digs) with double-double efforts, as the Illinois State volleyball team (9-6, 3-1 MVC) coasted to a four-set win
(15-25, 25-12, 25-21, 25-18) over rival Bradley at Redbird Arena Sunday afternoon.

Illinois State has won six straight overall matches over Bradley,
including six consecutive wins at Redbird Arena, dating back to the 2003 season. The Redbirds now own a 39-6 lead in the all-time series.

Kasey Mollerus recorded a match-high 23 digs to spearhead the Redbirds' defensive effort, as ISU racked up 80 team digs. The Redbirds also outscored the Braves, 64-59, enjoyed a 10-6 blocking advantage and outhit Bradley .192 to .124. The Braves were led by Melissa Collins' 15 kills. Four Bradley players had double-digit digs.

Bradley jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the early stages of the opening set, and after the Redbirds took an 8-6 advantage, the Braves went on a 3-0 run and never relinquished their lead. Bradley's lead stretched to as large 10 points down the stretch, and they cruised to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five with a 25-14 win, finishing the stanza on a 12-6 run. Collins had four kills in the set, and Bradley held ISU to just a .056 team hitting mark. 

Illinois State came out hot in the second frame, jumping out to a commanding 18-4 lead. Riessen had six kills in the opening 23 points to jump-start the Redbirds' offense. Bradley cut ISU's lead to 12 points three times in the final six possessions, but could draw no closer. Riessen ended the set with nine kills on just 19 swings (.474 hitting percentage), and ISU hit .300 as a team.

The third set was a back-and-forth affair, with a combined 24 ties and lead changes. ISU broke a 5-5 tie with a 3-1 spurt to take an 8-6 lead before the Braves countered with a 4-1 run to claim a 10-9 advantage. ISU then won four straight points, pushing its lead back to three, 13-10.

Bradley took a 16-15 lead after a kill by Sam Black, but ISU trailed just two more times in the stanza. With the Braves clinging to a 21-10 lead, ISU finished the frame on a 5-1 spree, capped off by Riessen and Richmond's set-winning kills. Richmond had six kills and hit .545 in the set to pace the 'Birds.   

ISU sealed the four-set win with a resounding 25-18 victory in the final frame. The Redbirds were aggressive early, jumping out to a 9-2 lead and forcing Burdette into his first timeout. Bradley pulled within five, 15-10, after the Redbirds committed two consecutive attack errors, but ISU never let the Braves get any closer.

After Lindsey's fourth kill, ISU enjoyed its largest lead, 23-14. The 'Birds forced match point after a kill by Richmond and forced Caitlin Staib into a match-ending attack error, securing the 3-1 win. 

Illinois State will return travel to No. 14 Wichita State (Oct. 3) and Missouri State (Oct. 4) next weekend in its second Missouri Valley Conference road series.  

[Text from file received from ISU Athletic Dept.]