NORMAL, Ill. – After playing 12 of its first 13 matches away from home, the Illinois State volleyball team will return to Redbird Arena this weekend for its first Missouri Valley Conference home matches of the season. The Redbirds will host Southern Illinois on Friday at 7 p.m., and Evansville on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Illinois State (8-5, 2-0 MVC) enters the home stand fresh off an impressive opening weekend of league play. The Redbirds won their first two conference matches of the season at Wichita State and Missouri State, both in straight sets, Sept. 19-20. The wins marked the first regular-season road sweep of the Shockers and Bears since 2006, and the first straight-set sweep of both teams since 1999.
The Redbirds were buoyed by several players who turned in standout performances, including senior setter Kaitlyn Early, who was recognized for her play and named the MVC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. ISU also got a boost from middle hitter Jaelyn Keene, who was named the MVC Freshman of the Week.
Early earned the honor after recording 78 assists in the matches against Wichita State and Missouri State, helping the team compile a .239 hitting percentage over the two contests. Keene tallied 20 kills in the matches, thanks to a .410 hitting percentage, while also chipping in nine blocks and 11 digs.
Illinois State has been one of the Valley's top offenses, ranking fourth in both kills (11.88 per set) and hitting percentage (.214). The Redbirds have been even better on defense, ranking first among league teams in opponents' hitting percentage (.162), and second in blocks (2.34 per set) and digs (16.29 per set).
The Redbirds have been highly successful in the career series against both of their opponents this weekend. ISU holds a 68-8 record in the series against Southern and a 37-3 edge against Evansville.
Southern Illinois enters the weekend series with a 7-6 overall record and a 1-0 mark in MVC play. Evansville enters at 4-9 and 0-1.
Both Illinois State matches this weekend, and all Redbird matches this season, can be heard live online at: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/isu/.
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