Sept. 6, 1997
Cal Edges Illinois State to Win Pepsi/ISU Tourney
NORMAL, Ill. - Alicia Perry led all players with 23 kills and 18 digs as
California upended Illinois State 13-15, 15-4, 8-15, 15-7, 15-12 to win the
Pepsi/Illinois State Classic volleyball tournament Saturday at Redbird Arena.
Perry had support from tournament MVP Jessica Dineberg, who had 17 kills and 10
digs, as the Golden Bears, 5-1, avenged a 1996 home-court tournament loss to
Illinois State, now 3-4.
Cal coach Sue Woodstra enjoyed the turnabout.
"It's nice to return the favor to Illinois State after they beat us in five
games in our tournament last year at Cal," said Woodstra. "We were 0-8 in
five-game matches last season so we're thrilled to have won two in one day."
Earlier in the day, Tulsa, now 1-5, took the Bears to the limit, but Dineberg's
14 kills, 13 digs and 5 blocks were a big difference as Cal won 15-9, 6-15,
12-15, 15-7, 15-10.
Against Cal, Illinois State was led by Michelle Kutcher with 14 kills, while
Marisa Brickley added 11 digs and 40 set assists. Both of them were on the
all-tournament team, along with freshman middle blocker Kendra Haselhorst, who
had 8 kills and 3 blocks for ISU.
Redbird coach Julie Morgan thought that her team played better against Cal than
it had in recent matches, but had errors at the wrong times.
"Our critical errors made the difference at the end of game four and the end of
game five,"said Morgan. "We were ready to play physically nd mentally, but Cal
adjusted much better to what we were doing when it counted most."
The Bears also ended Illinois State's home-court winning streak at 15 straight.
ISU extended that streak earlier in the day with a 15-3, 15-5, 15-13 victory
over Murray State, now 4-2. Kutcher had 13 kills and hit .591 in that match, as
the Redbirds out-hit the Racers .376 to .144. Haselhorst hit .588 with 11 kills,
plus 4 service aces and 7 total blocks.
Murray State captured third place with a 15-5, 16-14, 15-5 decision over Tulsa.
Trena Fish had 13 kills and Sarah Ernst added 12 for the Racers, who hit .342
in that match. Setter Kriatien Van Lierop, Tulsa's representative on the
all-tournament team, had 26 assists in that match, but Murray State setter
Kristi Hoffman, also an all-tourney choice, had 7 kills and a .545 hitting
percentage.
