ST. LOUIS – Illinois State volleyball players Emily Orrick and Jaelyn Keene were recognized for their stellar play over the weekend as both were recognized by the Missouri Valley Conference on Monday. Orrick was named the Valley's Defensive Player of the Week, while Keene was tabbed the league's Freshman of the Week.
Orrick and Keene helped the Redbirds to a pair of league wins over the weekend as the Redbirds improved to 13-5 overall and 7-0 in conference play.
Orrick, a senior from Mackinaw, Illinois, continued to anchor Illinois State's back row as the team's libero. The Redbirds beat Bradley and Loyola, both in straight sets, as Orrick led her team in digs in both matches. The senior tallied a match-high 22 digs in the win at Bradley on Oct. 10, and a team-high 16 digs in a win at Loyola on Oct. 11. Orrick also recorded three assists and a service ace over the two-match stretch. She currently leads the MVC in digs (5.13 per set).
Keene, a freshman middle hitter from Jacksonville, Illinois, turned in a record-setting performance in the Redbirds' win at Bradley, recording 11 kills on a .786 hitting percentage, a mark that ranks as the program's freshman record and sixth-best all-time. Keene tallied a combined 23 kills and a .611 hitting percentage over Illinois State's two wins over the weekend. She also chipped in six blocks, four digs and three service aces. She currently leads the MVC in blocks (1.10 per set), while ranking fourth in hitting percentage (.357) and eighth in points (3.46 per set).
The Redbirds will play host to MVC co-leader Northern Iowa (12-6, 7-0 MVC) on Friday at Redbird Arena. The match begins at 7 p.m. The Redbirds also host Drake at 7 p.m. Saturday.
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