DES MOINES, Iowa – The Illinois State volleyball team extended its winning streak to 18 matches while remaining undefeated in Missouri Valley Conference play with a 3-0 win over Drake at the Knapp Center Sunday. Illinois State won by scores of 25-15, 26-24, 25-13.
The Redbirds maintained their perfect record in the MVC after clinching the league's regular-season crown Saturday night at Northern Iowa.
"Our team played well this afternoon. They really stepped up defensively and made some great out-of-system plays," said Illinois State head coach Melissa Myers. "It was another great defensive performance from Ashley Rosch and Stacey Niao, our middles executed well again today, and Kaitlyn Early continues to balance our offense."
Jaelyn Keene and Rosch tallied 11 kills apiece, while Niao added eight kills and 16 digs. Emily Schneider registered 10 kills, Early dished out 40 assists and Emily Orrick racked up 21 digs.
Illinois State (22-5, 16-0 MVC) used a pair of four-point rallies – one early, one late – to win the first set. Drake (11-16, 3-13 MVC) took an early lead, but Illinois State used the first of its runs to take the lead. The Redbirds finished off the set with four straight points, including a pair of kills from Niao.
Illinois State trailed for most of the second set, but fought back late. The hosts led by as many as four points, at 16-12, but the Redbirds rallied to knot things up at 20-20. Both teams traded points until the score was 24-24, at which point Keene notched back-to-back kills to end the set.
The Redbirds shot out to an early lead and never trailed in the third set. A five-point run early on gave the team a 6-1 lead the Redbirds never relented. ISU sealed the victory with a Keene kill.
Illinois State posted a .355 hitting percentage, while limiting Drake to a .154 mark. The Redbirds also held a 4-1 advantage in service aces and a 68-55 edge in digs.
The Redbirds are back in action next weekend as they will host their final two home matches of the season. Illinois State will welcome Missouri State on Friday and Wichita State on Saturday. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m. starts.
Both matches, and all Illinois State matches this season, can be heard live online at: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/isu/.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.Â
