NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team picked up its first win over a nationally-ranked opponent in nearly 14 years as the Redbirds topped visiting No. 25 Northern Iowa Friday at Redbird Arena. Illinois State won by scores of 22-25, 25-21, 25-18, 21-25, 15-12.
Ella Francis led the Redbirds with 16 kills and four blocks. Juma Armando registered 14 kills, while Sydney Holt chipped in 13. Jaelyn Keene was the fourth Redbird with double-digit kills, with 11, including four in the decisive fifth set.
Stef Jankiewicz posted a double-double with a match-high 58 assists to go with 11 digs. Courtney Pence led all players with 37 digs, the eighth-highest single-match total in Illinois State history. Kendal Meier set a career high with 15 digs.
The win was Illinois State's first over a Top 25 opponent since the Redbirds beat then-No. 8 UNI on Nov. 21, 2003 at Redbird Arena, also in five sets.
"I'm just so excited, so proud of the team," said Illinois State head coach Leah Johnson. "I was thrilled with their performance. They followed the game plan. They took risks. We executed at such a high level for five sets and I'm just so proud of them."
UNI (20-6, 10-2 MVC) built a big lead early in the first set and the Panthers needed all of it as the Redbirds fought back late in the set. The Panthers led by as many as six points early on but Illinois State slowly chipped away at the visitor's lead, eventually tying it up at 21-21 after a four-point run. But UNI scored four of the final five points in the set to take an early advantage in the match.
Illinois State (15-10, 8-4) used an early five-point binge to take control of the second set. The five-straight points gave the Redbirds a 9-5 lead and the home team never trailed again in the set. UNI got back within a point at 22-21, but ISU scored the final three points in the set, the final on a service ace from Meier.
A four-point run early in the third set gave Illinois State a lead and a five-point rally later helped the Redbirds pull away. ISU led 19-11 after the five-point spree, which included kills from Armando, Francis and Ali Line. The Redbirds claimed the third set on a kill from Armando on set point.
The Panthers pushed the match to a fifth set thanks to a 6-0 run midway through the fourth set that gave the visitors an 18-10 lead. A late 6-1 push by the Redbirds got Illinois State to within four at 23-19, but a kill from Jaydlin Seehase on set point sent the match to a fifth set.
UNI seemed destined to complete its comeback when the Panthers scored the first five points of the fifth set, prompting both Illinois State timeouts. But the Redbirds scored three-straight points out of their second timeout and slowly clawed their way back into contention. Another three-point run later, capped by a Jankiewicz ace, helped the Redbirds tie it up at 9-9. Another three-point run, featuring kills from Francis and Holt, made it a 12-10 lead. A kill from Keene on match point finished off the win for Illinois State.
The Redbirds return to Redbird Arena Saturday night to host Drake at 7 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets for the match online at GoRedbirds.com/Tickets, by calling (309) 438-8000, or by visiting the ticket office, located at the north entrance to Redbird Arena.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
