NORMAL, Ill. – Late runs in each of the first two sets helped propel the visiting Drake volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Illinois State Saturday night at Redbird Arena. Drake won by scores of 25-20, 26-24, 25-19.
Drake (21-6, 10-3 MVC) overcame late deficits in each of the first two sets and rode the momentum in the third. The Bulldogs scored the final seven points of the first set before fighting off a set point in the second set en route to a 2-0 lead at the break. A five-point mid-set run in the third set put the Bulldogs on the path to victory.
Illinois State (15-11, 8-5) was led by Jaelyn Keene's team-high 12 kills. Sydney Holt chipped in nine kills off the bench. Stef Jankiewicz dished out 26 assists and Courtney Pence collected 29 digs, her season high in a three-set match.
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"If we have to win in an ugly style, then that has to be our goal," said Illinois State head coach Leah Johnson. "We tried to fight through a tough performance, but I think Drake put us in a lot of tough situations, so credit goes to them."
The lead ping-ponged back and forth throughout the first set until the Redbirds took a 20-18 lead after a service ace from Keene. Drake scored the next seven points, however, including three on kills from Kyla Inderski, to take the first set.
Drake used another late push to win the second set. With Illinois State leading 20-16, the Bulldogs fired off four-straight points to tie it up at 20-20. The Redbirds recovered and got to a set point at 24-23 after a kill from Keene, but Drake answered with the next three points – on consecutive kills from Natalie Fry, Grace Schofield and Cathryn Cheek – to take a 2-0 lead into the break.
Illinois State built an early lead in the third set, but a five-point Bulldog binge gave the visitors an 11-9 lead. The Redbirds remained within striking distance the rest of the set, but Drake scored four of the final five points in the set and sealed the sweep on a match-winning kill from Inderski.
The Redbirds return to action next weekend with matches at Valparaiso and Loyola Chicago. The Redbirds' full schedule, and links for live stats and video, can be found at GoRedbirds.com. Fans can also follow @RedbirdVB on Twitter for live updates and more.
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