CHICAGO – The Illinois State volleyball team earned its second straight-sets win in as many days as the Redbirds completed a perfect weekend in Missouri Valley Conference play with a 3-0 win over Loyola Chicago Saturday at Gentile Arena. Illinois State won by scores of 28-26, 25-12, 25-15.
Jaelyn Keene led all players with 13 kills on Saturday, while Lexi Wallen chipped in nine kills and 14 digs. Stef Jankiewicz posted a double-double with 31 assists and 10 digs, while Courtney Pence collected a match-high 18 digs and matched a career high with four service aces.
Illinois State (17-11, 10-5 MVC) previously earned a 3-0 win at Valparaiso Friday night.
"Another great set one comeback with a full team effort," said Illinois State head coach Leah Johnson. "We got great contributions from Lexi Wallen and Lexi Varga to give us the boost we needed tonight."
Loyola (3-22, 2-12) led most of the first set and eventually got to a set point at 24-22. Back-to-back kills from Sydney Holt evened the score at 24-24. Holt fought off another set point with a kill moments later to tie it at 25-25. Keene fended off yet another Loyola set point to even the score at 26-26. A kill from Wallen got the Redbirds their first set point opportunity, and a kill from Keene there gave the Redbirds an early lead in the match.
The Redbirds grabbed an early lead in the second set, thanks to back-to-back kills from Varga early in the set. A Kendal Meier ace capped a four-point run to give the visitors a 5-3 lead and the Redbirds never trailed again. Loyola cut the ISU lead to 17-12 late, but Illinois State finished the set on an eight-point run and took a 2-0 lead into the break after a set-clinching kill from Ali Line.
A four-point run early in the third set put the Redbirds on track to finish the match in three sets. Another four-point rally midway through the set boosted the Illinois State lead to 17-7. The Redbirds scored the final three points of the match to seal the win, the final point coming on a kill from Wallen.
The Redbirds are back in action next Saturday at Bradley. Links for live stats and live video are available at GoRedbirds.com and fans can follow @RedbirdVB on Twitter for live updates and more.
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