CARBONDALE, Ill. – Kaitlyn Early and Jaelyn Keene helped the Redbirds remain undefeated in Missouri Valley Conference play Saturday as the Redbirds scored a 3-0 win over Southern Illinois at Davies Gym. The Redbirds won by scores of 28-26, 25-21, 25-23.
Illinois State (17-5, 11-0 MVC) ran its winning streak to 13 matches, dating back to Sept. 12, which ties the eighth-longest win streak in program history. The 11-0 start in league play is the program's second-best start in the MVC; Illinois State's best start in MVC play came in 1993, when the team opened with 12-consecutive wins.
Emily Schneider recorded 11 kills and a team-high .500 hitting percentage in Saturday's match. Early tallied 32 assists, 11 digs and six kills, while Keene registered a match-high 13 kills, including three straight to fuel a come-from-behind victory in the third set.
"We had a quick turnaround and this wasn't our best overall performance, but Emily Schneider and Jaelyn Keene stepped up for us this afternoon," Myers said. "Kaitlyn did a great job of getting them the ball at key times."
Ashley Rosch added 10 kills and nine digs. Emily Orrick led the Redbirds with 15 digs.
The first set featured 14 tied scores and the Redbirds claimed the lead after all but two of them. With the score tied 26-all, a Stacey Niao kill set up the Redbirds' second set point of the first set. A Southern Illinois attacking error on the next point clinched the first-set victory for the Redbirds.
Illinois State used two runs to seal the second-set win. The Redbirds used a 5-0 rally to overcome an early deficit before a 7-1 binge helped them pull away. The hosts fought their way back to within three points of the lead late, but key kills from Schneider and Keene helped the Redbirds finish the second set.
Southern Illinois (10-13, 4-7 MVC) controlled the third set until Keene recorded three-straight kills to give the Redbirds their first lead of the set. She followed with a solo block and the Redbirds never trailed again. Early finished off the match with her sixth kill on match point.
Illinois State finished with a .173 hitting percentage, while Southern Illinois ended with a .129 mark. The Salukis held a 12-3 edge in blocks. Both teams registered four service aces.
The Redbirds return to action on Friday, Oct. 31, when they host Indiana State at Redbird Arena. The match begins at 7 p.m.
That match, and all Redbird matches this season, can be heard live online at: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/isu/.
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