NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team ran away with a straight-sets win in their first match Friday at the Country Financial Redbird Classic at Redbird Arena. Illinois State topped Youngstown State by scores of 25-16, 25-16, 25-20.
Jaelyn Keene led the Redbirds with a match-high 12 kills, while Lexi Varga and Ashley Rosch chipped in 10 and 11, respectively. Jordan Weatherless dished out 26 assists and Jacqueline Twing handed out 20 helpers. Courtney Pence led all players with 12 digs.
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The Redbirds used a 7-1 rally midway through the first set to pull away, as they turned a two-point lead into a seven-point cushion. Illinois State scored the final three points to finish off the set, the final one on a kill from Varga.
The second set followed a similar script, with the Redbirds using a mid-set run to grab control. This time it was a 5-1 rally that gave the Redbirds a seven-point edge and led to a second-set victory that matched the Redbirds' margin of victory in the first set.
The Redbirds jumped out to an early lead and never trailed in the third set. The Penguins cut the lead to as few as three points midway through the set, but the Redbirds fended off the comeback bid and clinched the three-set win with a kill from Rosch.
In the first match at the Country Financial Redbird Classic Friday morning, IUPUI topped Toledo in straight sets.
The Redbirds are back in action Friday at 7 p.m. when they take on IUPUI. The Redbirds will unveil banners for their 2014 Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles, as well as the team's NCAA Tournament appearance.
Links for live video, audio and stats for matches at the Country Financial Redbird Classic can be found at GoRedbirds.com, and fans can receive live updates from the matches via Twitter, by following @RedbirdVB.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.Â
