TUCSON, Ariz. – The Illinois State volleyball team swept its third and final match of the Wildcat Classic Saturday as the Redbirds topped Arizona to win the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record. All three matches were sweeps, including Saturday's 27-25, 25-12, 25-23 win over Arizona.
Illinois State's Lexi Wallen was named the tournament's most valuable player, while Courtney Pence and Stef Jankiewicz were all-tournament team selections.
Wallen led the Redbirds in the win over Arizona Saturday, with a match-high 15 kills and 14 digs. Machayla Leonard added 14 kills in the win. Jankiewicz dished out 43 assists and Pence led the team with 15 digs.
The sweep was the third of the tournament for the Redbirds, who earned straight-sets wins over New Mexico State and William & Mary on Friday.
"I am very proud of the consistency with which we played," said Illinois State head coach Leah Johnson. "We are finding our true team identity and trusting it. It was the best back-to-back performances we've put together and we'll keep building from here."
A back-and-forth opening set saw Arizona take a 14-12 lead after a four-point run. The Wildcats led up until a late push from the Redbirds, as Illinois State scored three-straight points to get to a set point at 24-23. Arizona scored the next two to get to a set point of its own, but back-to-back kills from Wallen got the Redbirds a second chance at a set point, and an Ali Line kill gave the Redbirds an opening-set win.
Illinois State (7-6) jumped out to early leads of 3-1 and 5-1 in the second set, prompting Arizona (6-3) to use both of its timeouts early. The Redbirds continued to build their lead, using a five-point run, which included a pair of Wallen aces, to take a 19-7 lead. Jaelyn Keene and Wallen teamed up for a block to get to a set point and a kill from Keene made it a 2-0 lead for Illinois State.
Arizona shot out to an early lead in the third set, but a four-point Illinois State run got the Redbirds back within one at 8-7. The teams traded points all the way to the end, until Arizona scored two in a row to take a 23-22 lead and force an Illinois State timeout. A Wildcat error tied it up at 23-23 and a solo block from Leonard got the Redbirds to a match point. Illinois State won it there on Leonard's 14th kill of the match.
The Redbirds return to Redbird Arena next weekend to begin Missouri Valley Conference play, hosting Missouri State on Friday and Southern Illinois on Saturday. Fans can purchase tickets 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.
