NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team dropped the first two sets but stormed all the way back to earn a hard-fought, five-set win over visiting Valparaiso Saturday night before a season-high crowd of 1,575 in its annual "Pack the Arena" match. The Redbirds won by scores of 19-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-19, 15-12.
Jaelyn Keene set a career high and tied Illinois State's Redbird Arena record with 29 kills Saturday night. Keene did her best work late, with 10 kills in the fourth set and five more in the decisive fifth set.
The comeback from a 0-2 deficit marked Illinois State's first win in a match after dropping the first two sets since Sept. 2, 2016 against Miami (Ohio). It was Illinois State's first comeback from a 0-2 deficit in a match at Redbird Arena since Nov. 21, 2014 against Missouri State.
Machayla Leonard racked up 10 kills for the Redbirds, including six in the fourth set as Illinois State surged. Stef Jankiewicz dished out 60 assists and Courtney Pence tallied 23 digs.
"When we came out of the locker room (after the second set), I think you saw the real Redbirds," said Illinois State head coach Leah Johnson. "It took us two sets, which is unfortunate, but I love the product we put on the court in sets three, four and five."
After dropping the first two sets, Illinois State got one back in the third set. With four lead changes and six tied scores, the set went down to the wire. The Redbirds took a 23-22 lead on a Valpo service error and then won it with back-to-back kills from Juma Armando and Keene.
The Redbird comeback continued in the fourth set. An early seven-point spree gave the Redbirds a 12-6 lead. Illinois State maintained a lead of at least four points the rest of the way and sent the match to a fifth set with Keene's 24th kill of the match.
Illinois State shot out to an early lead and hung on late to win the fifth set. After trading the first two points, the Redbirds ran off seven-straight points to take command. The Crusaders fought back, though, getting within two points late, but key kills down the stretch from Lexi Wallen and Ella Francis got the Redbirds to a match point, and a Valpo error sealed the comeback win for Illinois State.
The Redbirds are back in action Monday when they travel to Indiana State to take on the Sycamores at 6 p.m. CT at Indiana State's ISU Arena, in a match that will be broadcast live as part of The Valley on ESPN3. Links for live stats and video are available at GoRedbirds.com and fans can follow @RedbirdVB on Twitter for live updates and more.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
