NORMAL, Ill. – With a Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship title on the line, the Illinois State volleyball team (24-5, 16-1 MVC) will play its regular-season finale at Bradley (22-7, 12-5 MVC) on Friday night. First serve in the I-74 rivalry is set for 7 p.m. at Renaissance Coliseum.
A victory on Friday night will guarantee the Redbirds at least a share of the 2018 Valley regular-season title. Illinois State is currently sitting a half of a game ahead of UNI on the conference leaderboard, and will find out its fate at the conclusion of the Panthers' regular-season finale on Saturday.
Scouting the Opponent
Illinois State holds an impressive 57-8 series edge over the Braves. The Redbirds enter Friday's match against Bradley on a 15-match win streak, as Illinois State has posted an impressive 25-1 record against the Braves since 2005.
History Made
With her fourth dig against the Loyola Chicago Ramblers on Friday night (Nov. 9), Courtney Pence surpassed UNI's Ellie Blankenship's (2007-10) career digs mark in the Valley record book, making the senior libero the MVC's career digs leader. Pence currently ranks sixth (2,696) in NCAA Division I volleyball history in the career category. She needs just 57 digs to jump into fourth all-time, passing Valparaiso's Taylor Root (2009-12). If she does so, she will become the highest-ranking player who played her entire career in the 25-point era.
Easy as 1-2-3
Illinois State's sweep of Loyola Chicago on Friday night marked the Redbirds' 14th three-set win of the season. The last time that the Redbirds had 14 sweeps at this point of the season dates back to 2014 when Illinois State had swept 15 opponents in its first 29 matches. Nine of Illinois State's 14 straight-set victories this season have come during MVC play – the most since 2014 – when the Redbirds had 12 sweeps at this point in the conference slate.
One and Done
Illinois State has posted a 22-1 record this season when opening a match with a victory in the first set. The Redbirds' one loss came against then-No. 6 Wisconsin, when Illinois State fell in four. Additionally, the Redbirds have come back to win after being down 0-1 on two occasions – versus Furman and Tulsa.
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