NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team pushed its winning streak to five and remained undefeated in Missouri Valley Conference play with a 3-1 win over Southern Illinois. ISU won Friday's match by scores of 24-26, 25-13, 25-17, 25-11.
Emily Schneider led the way for the Redbirds with a game-high 13 kills and an impressive .765 hitting percentage. Jaelyn Keene also tallied 11 kills and a eight blocks for ISU, while Kaitlyn Early led all players with 41 assists in the game. Sierra Burris also recorded a career-high 20 digs as Illinois State was able to erase a first-set loss and win the last three for its third win in conference play and ninth overall.
The Redbirds (9-5, 3-0 MVC) and Salukis (7-7, 1-1 MVC) played a close first set with neither team extending a lead over five points. A set-high five kills from Ashley Rosch gave the Redbirds a lead for much of the set and put them on the verge of match point until Southern Illinois went on a 5-0 run to push the score to even at 24. The Salukis iced it with back-to-back blocks to win the set.
The second set featured a fast start from the Redbirds, as they built a 5-1 lead thanks to two of Early's set-high 16 assists. The Salukis made it close at 10-7, but ISU was aided by Keene's three kills in the middle of the set to put the score at 17-8, and the Redbirds never looked back. Keene eventually secured the second-set win with her seventh kill of the set. Schneider also added six of her kills as Illinois State posted a .500 team attack percentage in the set.
Much like the first set, the two teams played back and forth in the third set. Early's 10 assists and eight digs, however, helped ISU pull away as the Redbirds never trailed in the set.
In the fourth and final set, Illinois State jumped out to an 8-1 lead with kills from Keene, Early and Stacey Niao. From there, the Salukis were never able to overcome the deficit as the Redbirds led the entire way and won the set 25-11.Â
The Redbirds posted a .222 hitting percentage, while limiting Southern Illinois to a .033 mark. Illinois State also held an advantage in blocks, at 10-7, and aces, at 7-1.
The Redbirds are back in action on Sunday when they host Evansville at 1 p.m.
Sunday's match, and all Illinois State matches this season, can be heard live online at: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/isu/.
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