PEORIA, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team extended its winning streak to eight, while remaining undefeated in Missouri Valley Conference play, with a 3-0 win at Bradley Friday night. The Redbirds won by scores of 25-15, 25-17, 25-17.
Illinois State (12-5, 6-0 MVC) was led by Jaelyn Keene's 11 kills and .786 hitting percentage; the hitting percentage was a career best for Keene, and the highest mark turned in by an Illinois State player this season. Emily Schneider added nine kills and a match-high five blocks. Kaitlyn Early dished out 34 assists and Emily Orrick recorded a match-high 22 digs.
The Redbirds took the first set, using a 10-2 run midway through the set to pull away. The set featured a tied score at every juncture up to 7-7, at which point Illinois State started its run. An ace serve from Orrick set up match point, and the Redbirds wrapped up the first set two points later via a Bradley service error.
ISU ran out to a 7-1 lead in the second set and maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way. The closest Bradley came was four points from the lead at 19-15, but Illinois State scored six of the final eight points in the set to earn the second-set win.
The Redbirds ran out to another early lead in the third set and never trailed en route to a 25-17 third-set win to finish off the match.
Illinois State posted a .333 hitting percentage, while limiting Bradley (0-17, 0-7 MVC) to a .040 mark. The Redbirds also held a 9-1 advantage in blocks and 4-1 edge in aces.
The Redbirds are back in action Saturday night when they travel to Loyola for another MVC contest. The match begins at 6 p.m. at Loyola's Gentile Arena.
Saturday's match, and all Redbird matches this season, can be heard live online at: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/isu/.
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