Shockers at Southern Illinois (Fri, 7pm) and Evansville (Sat, 6pm)

[flyingMoose]

Mikaela is being held out of the Evansville match because of a possible concussion. Thus, we will probably see a lot of 5-1 tonight, since there is no one with the necessary passing skills to drop into her spot.

[flyingMoose]

The LiveStats and Mike's play-by-play do not match up. Evansville takes their second timeout with the Shocks leading 15-6 (according to Mike).

For the second straight night, the Shocks are playing in a gym where the ceiling is in play, is a factor.

[flyingMoose]

Set 1

Shockers 25-12 Evansville

The Shocks ran away after the score was 6-5. We hit .438 to .065 for Evansville. Mash and Jenny had four kills each.

We ran the 5-1 the entire set. Mikaela was hit by a serve during the pre-game warmups for a possible concussion.

[flyingMoose]

Shockers are out to a 10-5 lead in the second set after a 4-4 start, and Evansville takes a timeout.

At 14-7, Evansville takes their second timeout.

[flyingMoose]

Set 2

Shockers 25-16 Evansville

In this set, we hit .311 v .111. Jenny has nine kills and Ashlyn has seven for the match with three others having six or five kills. Mike noted that Dani has made some amazing digs of balls that have come off the beams in the ceiling at crazy angles.

[flyingMoose]

Shocks have an early 4-0 lead, and Evansville takes an early timeout.

[flyingMoose]

Not a final, but ...

Indiana State 2-0 Northern Iowa

25-23, 25-12

[flyingMoose]

Evansville rallies to 17-18, and the Shockers call a timeout with a one-point lead.

Evansville ties the match, but the Shocks score two point to take a 22-20 lead. Evansville takes their second timeout.

[flyingMoose]

Set 3

Shockers 25-21 Evansville

The Shocks close out the match with a block, a service ace and a ball handling error by the Purple Aces.

For the match, the Shockers hit .354 to .157. Jenny was 12-2-27 for .370, Ashlyn was 11-2-23 for .391, Mash was 10-4-30 for .200, Abbie was 9-0-14 for .643, and Katie was 8-3-16 for .312.

Emily was second on the team with eleven digs behind Dani's fifteen.

The 5-1 worked well tonight. Is this a matter of the opponent, or did we just execute better than we have in the past?

[1972Shocker]

Mikaela seemed to be in good spirits on the sidelines so I think her concussions symptoms are probably very mild. As @flyingMoose reported the Shocks switched to a 5-1 due to holding Mikeala out. The Shocks played very well the 1st two sets. There passing wasn't as good in the 3rd set but Evansville also played better in the 3rd set. Evansville is not defenseless as they have several good players and some good size in their lineup. Overall I think Evansville probably served tougher than we did but we handled their tough serves very well. There were quite a few very long and well-played rallies tonight.

And yes there were quite a few points where the rafters came into play. The Evansville volleyball facility is a double-wide gym similar to the PHC Multi-Purpose Facility at Kock Arena. However, they only have 10 rows of the pull out bleachers on one side of the gym. Their bleachers were nicer than SIU's in that they had plastic seats, but they sit further away from the court than at SIU. The bottom of the rafters are about 20 ft. high and the light fixtures are attached to the bottom of the rafters. Also it was very cool in the gym, although I don't think that effected play. Mike sat at a table behind the scorer's table and benches and I notice he was standing for a good part of the match in order to see.

Ashlyn is playing the best volleyball of her career. Very aggressive, very athletic but very clean as well. Jenny just continues to learn and grow as well. Dani is playing terrific volleyball as well. Abbie and Katie are solid in the middle. Masher got blocked quite a few times tonight but she also had some outstanding back row attacks. I think the Shocks are getting better.

The reported attendance was 342 and that is probably about right. As at SIU the majority of those fans were students. So while SIU and Evansville attendance doesn't come close to what the Shocks get at home the student support at SIU and Evansville is quite a bit better than we see at Koch Arena.

While the volleyball venues at SIU and Evansville are unimpressive I have to say I liked both of the campuses. SIU's, of course, is much bigger than Evansville but both are very nice. The only other Valley campus I have seen is MSU. The SIU and Evansville campuses are, IMHO, much nicer than MSU which I just haven't been impressed with. Enjoyed the road trip.

[flyingMoose]

Other Saturday scores

Southern Illinois 0-3 Missouri State

!!Indiana State 3-1 Northern Iowa
25-23, 25-12, 21-25, 25-23

Illinois State 3-2 Drake
20-25, 23-25, 25-16, 25-18, 15-6


Halfway through conference play, the Redbirds are undefeated and two games up on Northern Iowa and Missouri State.

[1972Shocker]

Terrific scoring balance by the Shocks tonight with 5 players in double-figure points (kills + aces + blocks). Masher 14.5, Jenny 12.5, Abbie 11.5, Ashlyn 11.0 and Katie 10.5.

[flyingMoose]

Mikaela seemed to be in good spirits on the sidelines so I think her concussions symptoms are probably very mild.

Lambo clarified in the post-game that Mikaela was hit by a serve that bounced off the floor as she was bending down to pick up a ball. But that was about the only thing I picked up out of the post-game. :( Very difficult to hear and understand.

[Dave Stalwart]

Other Saturday scores

Southern Illinois 0-3 Missouri State

!!Indiana State 3-1 Northern Iowa
25-23, 25-12, 21-25, 25-23

Illinois State 3-2 Drake
20-25, 23-25, 25-16, 25-18, 15-6


Halfway through conference play, the Redbirds are undefeated and two games up on Northern Iowa and Missouri State.

Drake has gotta be kicking themselves. It would have been interesting if they could have pulled that off

[flyingMoose]

A nice article about Mikaela. Be surprised - or perhaps not.