VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Illinois State volleyball team (24-5, 16-1 MVC) battled for a 3-1 match win at Valparaiso (22-9, 9-7 MVC) Saturday night to continue its win streak and remain in first place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings.
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
Overall thoughts on the match…
"I think we started the match really sharp. Our passing was never all that clean, but we were scoring well. In set three when they were scoring cleaner and quicker, then it became obvious. I thought we did a nice job of giving the ball to our outsides more, allowing our middles to find a rhythm as well."
On Kaylee Martin's 18 kill performance…
"Kaylee (Martin) was very steady throughout the entire match, and never rode the highs or the lows and I think that's what separated her. She always had a plan to score, and she was hitting with purpose."
Previewing the team's final match of the regular season…
"I think the recovery that will come after Bradley is as significant the match against Bradley itself. Both teams are going to put together a great scout and great game plan. There is a reason Bradley is sitting in the top-three of the conference."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> The Redbirds came out swinging, hitting a powerful .364 to hold a five-point lead over the Crusaders, and forcing an early timeout by the home team. Illinois State was able to maintain its cushion for the opening frame, behind a pair of kills from Lexi Varga, Marissa Stockman and Kaylee Martin. Valparaiso used its final timeout, trailing 14-8, and regained possession out of the break. Martin registered her third kill, and followed with a service ace, to help Illinois State jump out to a 16-9 advantage. The Redbirds reached 20 first on a solo block by Ali Line, before sealing the opening frame, 25-17, on Stockman's fourth kill on a Valparaiso overpass. Illinois State held the Crusaders to a hitting percentage below .100 in the opening frame, as the Redbirds hit at a .393 clip.
Set 2 >> It was a back-and-forth battle between the two teams to open the second set, as neither team held more than a two-point advantage over the other early on. Martin and Line teamed up at the net to end a long rally and level the set at six-all. Illinois State jumped out to its largest lead of the set – four points – as part of a 5-0 scoring run, holding a 15-11 lead at the media break. The Redbirds continued to run out of the break, as Varga notched her team-high sixth kill. Illinois State continued its run, while forcing Valparaiso to use its first timeout, after the Crusaders committed a ball handling error with the Redbirds ahead, 18-11. Out of the break, a service error put the ball back into the hands of Valparaiso, but the Redbirds regained control on a kill by Varga. A block by Line and Stef Jankiewicz pushed Illinois State to a 20-12 advantage, before Martin's seventh kills gave the Redbirds a 25-15 second-set win.
Set 3 >> Kendal Meier delivered the Redbirds' fourth service ace to open the third set to get Illinois State on the board first. Valparaiso jumped out to a three-point lead, but Varga's team-high ninth kill helped give the ball back to the Redbirds. The Crusaders maintained their lead, as Miller soared above the net for her seventh kill to bring Illinois State within three points. Two more kills from Miller, followed by a Crusader hitting error at the end of another long rally, continued Illinois State's momentum and brought the Redbirds within one. At the media break, Valparaiso held a 15-11 lead as part of a 3-0 scoring run. Out of the break, the Crusaders continued their run, forcing the Redbirds to use their first timeout of the match, sitting at a 17-11 deficit. A kill by Line ended Valparaiso's 6-0 scoring run, and Illinois State continued to add pressure behind a service ace by Jankiewicz and a kill by Martin, forcing the Crusaders to call a timeout with a slim 22-18 lead. Valparaiso forced a fourth set with a 25-19 third-set win over the Redbirds.
Set 4 >> Illinois State jumped on the board first in the fourth set, but Valparaiso tied it up at four-all with just its second service ace of the match. A pair of kills by Martin, and a block by the newcomer and Stockman, helped push the Redbirds ahead 8-6 early. The Crusaders climbed back to level the set once again, and regained the lead on a double hit call on Illinois State. Martin's match-leading 15th kill brought the Redbirds back within one, as the back-and-forth battle continued. After a questionable call leveled the set at 18-all, Stockman tallied her seventh kill to give Illinois State the lead. With another kill by the freshman, the Crusaders were forced to call a timeout, trailing 20-18. Out of the break, Illinois State continued its scoring run, taking a four-point lead. A service ace by Courtney Pence, followed by a Valparaiso attack error, helped the Redbirds take the fourth set, 25-19.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State will conclude the 2018 regular season on the road at I-74 rival Bradley on Nov. 16. First serve between the Redbirds and the Braves is set for 7 p.m.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more
