Redbirds Top Evansville in Three Sets to Remain Unbeaten in MVC

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Illinois State volleyball team maintained its perfect mark in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 3-0 win over Evansville Friday at Meeks Family Court. The Redbirds won by scores of 25-15, 25-15, 25-21.

Illinois State (16-5, 10-0 MVC) matched the program's best start in Missouri Valley Conference play since 1997, when the team also opened its conference slate with 10-straight wins.

Ashley Rosch tallied a team-high 12 kills, while committing just one error, and finished with a.524 hitting percentage. Eliza Smith and Jaelyn Keene added nine kills apiece, while Emily Schneider and Stacey Niao chipped in seven and eight, respectively. Kaitlyn Early dished out a match-high 38 assists, while adding four kills on four attempts, for a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage. Emily Orrick tallied a match-high 17 digs.

"Evansville played very hard and made us earn everything tonight," said ISU head coach Melissa Myers. "This was another great overall team effort."

Illinois State used a five-point run early in the first set to take control. The Redbirds maintained a comfortable lead throughout and finished off the set when Keene and Smith teamed up for a block on set point.

Both teams held leads early in the second set, but the Redbirds ran off seven straight points, with Orrick serving, to break an 8-8 tie. A Rosch service ace sealed the Redbirds' win in the second set.

The third set was the closest of the match as Evansville (7-15, 3-7 MVC) battled back from an early deficit to tie things at 18-18. Smith broke the tie with her ninth kill of the match, however, and the Redbirds never looked back.

Illinois State turned in a .424 hitting percentage, while limiting Evansville to a .200 mark. The Redbirds also held edges in blocks, 5-4, and aces, 6-3.

The Redbirds are back in action Saturday as they travel to Southern Illinois for a 3 p.m. match with the Salukis.

Saturday's match, and all Redbird matches this season, can be heard live online at: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/isu/.

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