NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team earned its first Missouri Valley Conference win of the season and the Leah Johnson era as the Redbirds swept visiting Southern Illinois Saturday at Redbird Arena. Illinois State won by scores of 25-22, 25-19, 25-18.
Jaelyn Keene led all players with 19 kills. Ali Line chipped in 10 more. Stef Jankiewicz dished out 34 digs and Courtney Pence led all players with 23 digs and four service aces.
"We were able to be smart and play efficiently and that was the key," said Johnson. "It wasn't always pretty but we executed the game plan at a high level."
Both teams led early in the first set until the Salukis pulled away with a five-point run to take a 12-10 lead. Southern Illinois (2-11, 1-1 MVC) built a lead that reached as many as four points, but ISU clawed its way back into the match, using a late four-point push to turn a two-point deficit into a two-point lead at 23-21. The Redbirds then claimed the opening set with a service ace from Megan Beutke on set point.
Illinois State (8-7, 1-1) got off to a 4-0 start and never trailed in the second set. SIU eventually tied it up and kept it close late, but another four-point rally by the Redbirds got Illinois State to a set point and a kill from Ella Francis made it a 2-0 lead in the match.
Southern Illinois shot out to a 4-0 lead in the third set, but Illinois State used a five-point run moments later to claim a 6-5 lead. After an SIU point ended the Redbirds' run, Illinois State rattled off five more to take control at 11-6. Southern Illinois never got closer than three points from the lead the rest of the way as the Redbirds secured the sweep.
Illinois State will be off on Sunday before hitting the road for its first Missouri Valley Conference road match of the season, on Monday at Evansville. Links for live stats and video are available at GoRedbirds.com, and fans can follow @RedbirdVB on Twitter for live updates and more.
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