GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Illinois State volleyball team rallied late but was unable to overcome dropping the first two sets in a 3-1 loss to host Green Bay Friday in the second round of the National Invitational Volleyball Champion at Kress Events Center.
Illinois State lost two close sets to start the match before winning a lopsided third set. Green Bay then battled back and came from behind to win a fourth set that required extra points. Â
The Redbirds' season ends with a 22-13 overall record, with the 22 wins matching the program's second-highest total since the turn of the century.
"It felt like we waited too long to show up. We gave them so much confidence early in the match. But we came out in sets three and four and had a lot of control and played well, and I liked how we responded," said Illinois State head coach Leah Johnson "We were so proud to have this season for our seniors and to have the chance to play in the postseason."
Seniors Juma Armando and Jaelyn Keene led the Redbird offense with 13 and 11 kills, respectively, in Friday's match. Stef Jankiewicz dished out 50 assists and Courtney Pence tallied 20 digs.
Green Bay claimed an incredibly close opening set that featured 12 tied scores and six lead changes. Neither team led by more than two points at any juncture in the set, but Green Bay finished strong, scoring four of the final six points to break a 21-21 tie late.
The Phoenix never trailed in the second set after scoring the first three points in the set. A 7-1 run late turned a 16-14 Green Bay lead into a 23-15 advantage for the hosts. Illinois State scored four-straight points to answer, forcing a Green Bay timeout, but the Phoenix scored the next two points to take a 2-0 lead into the break.
Illinois State built a commanding lead and fought off a furious Green Bay rally to win the third set. The Redbirds went ahead by as many as 11 points, at 14-3, but the Phoenix got back within two points late, at 18-16. The Redbirds answered with three-straight points, however, and won their first set of the match when Sydney Holt provided a set-winning kill.
Green Bay shot out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth set, but Illinois State came roaring back, eventually taking a lead that reached as many as four points at 19-15. Green Bay battled back to tie it up at 22-22 and got a set point at 24-23. Illinois State fought it off with a kill from Holt to tie it up at 24-24. But back-to-back Green Bay kills sealed the win.
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