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NORMAL, Ill. – Courtney Pence set an Illinois State digs record for the second weekend in a row as the Redbird volleyball team earned a sweep over Missouri Valley Conference foe Bradley Saturday night at Redbird Arena. Illinois State won by scores of 25-20, 25-17, 29-27.
With Pence patrolling the back row, Aly Dawson spearheaded the Redbird offense by tallying a match-high 19 kills, while Jaelyn Keene and Lexi Varga added 10 apiece. Jordan Weatherless dished out 45 assists.
Pence tallied 39 digs in the match, the fourth-highest total in program history, and the highest three-set total in Illinois State and Redbird Arena history. Her 39 digs are the most by a Division I player in a three-set match this season.
Pence previously set an Illinois State single-match record with 44 digs in a match at Northern Iowa Sept. 16.
Illinois State (10-5, 3-0 MVC) steadily built a lead early in the first set, but Bradley (5-8, 0-2) fought back to within one point at 20-19. The Redbirds finished with a 5-1 run, however, with two kills coming from Dawson.
A 6-0 run midway through the second set helped the Redbirds pull away again. Five-straight points from the Redbirds, the final two coming on kills from Ali Line, then gave Illinois State a 2-0 lead heading into the break.
The third set was the closest of the night, with 18 tied scores and six lead changes. The resilient Braves fought off five match points, but Illinois State converted on its sixth try, with an ace serve from Dawson capping the sweep.
Illinois State returns to action next Friday, with a 7 p.m. match versus Indiana State at Redbird Arena. Fans can purchase tickets for both matches this weekend from the Illinois State Athletics Ticket Office, online at GoRedbirds.com/Tickets, in-person by visiting the ticket office at the north entrance to Redbird Arena, or by calling (309) 438-8000.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
