SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Illinois State volleyball team made it a weekend sweep as the Redbirds took a 3-0 win at Missouri State Saturday night, just 24 hours after winning their Missouri Valley Conference opener Friday night at Wichita State. ISU won Saturday's match by scores of 26-24, 25-16, 25-20.
The wins over Wichita State and Missouri State marked the first time since 2006 that the Redbirds defeated the Valley foes in back-to-back road matches.
Ashley Rosch paced the Redbirds with 16 kills and a .293 hitting percentage. Stacey Niao added 11 kills, while Jaelyn Keene chipped in nine kills and five blocks. Kaitlyn Early dished out 41 assists and Emily Orrick had 14 digs. Sierra Burris added 11 digs.
Rosch helped the Redbirds to a first-set victory with six kills in the frame. The first set featured 17 tied scores and eight lead changes, the final of which came when Rosch broke a 24-24 tie with her sixth kill of the set. The Redbirds claimed the first set one point later with a kill from Niao.
In the second set, the Redbirds shot out to an 8-2 lead and never looked back. Aided by five kills from Niao, Illinois State never trailed in the set. A kill from Rosch sealed the second-set win.
The Redbirds took another early lead in the third set, forcing a Missouri State timeout after opening up with a 5-1 lead. Keene recorded four of her nine kills in the third set, including the match-winner.
The Redbirds (8-5, 2-0 MVC) posted a .272 hitting percentage, while limiting Missouri State (7-6, 1-1 MVC) to a .118 mark. The Redbirds also held a 7-3 edge in blocks.
The Redbirds return to campus for their first home conference matches of the season next weekend. ISU will host Southern Illinois on Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m., and Evansville on Sunday, Sept. 28, at 1 p.m.
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
