PEORIA, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team (24-6, 16-2 MVC) closed out the 2018 regular season with a straight-set defeat to the Bradley Braves (23-7, 13-5 MVC) on Friday night, but has won at least a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title with Evansville's five-set upset of UNI.
The Redbirds finished with a 16-2 mark in Valley play, currently sitting a half of a game ahead of the Panthers. With a UNI loss at Indiana State tomorrow, Illinois State will be the outright champions and will earn the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament next week. If the Panthers win, the Redbirds will share a piece of the regular-season title with UNI and will receive the No. 2 seed based on tie-breaking protocol. Â
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
On Sydney Holt's spark off the bench, specifically in the second set…
"We are really proud of Sydney (Holt) and the way she took big swings for us, especially in the second set. She came in clutch in key moments when the pressure was high."
On how the team will need to change its focus for the Valley tournament…
"We will respond like any other match. We are a goal-oriented team, and we will set our goals and move forward with our plan."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> Bradley jumped out to an early 7-3 lead over the Redbirds, before a kill by Kaylee Martin on the outside kick-started Illinois State's offense. The Redbirds came within two on a tip over the block by Marissa Stockman, before the Braves were able to regain possession. Another kill by Martin, followed by a block at the net by Stockman and Monica Miller, brought the Redbirds back within a pair. The newcomer duo of Martin and Stockman, along with Miller, helped fuel Illinois State's offense early, keeping Bradley on its toes. At the media timeout, the Braves held a slim 15-12 lead over Illinois State, and extended their lead to five out of the break. The Redbirds used their final timeout, sitting at a 20-14 deficit, before another block by Stockman and Miller put the ball back into the hands of Illinois State. With the Redbirds chipping away at the Braves' lead, Bradley was forced to use its first timeout holding on to a four-point lead. Illinois State's run continued, as a solo block by Lexi Varga had the Redbirds within three of the home team, but the Braves held on for a 25-19 first-set win.
Set 2 >> Bradley opened with a 6-3 lead, but Ali Line's fourth kill brought the ball into the hands of the Redbirds and took the senior behind the service line. The Braves responded for a four-point lead and Illinois State timeout. Bradley kept its lead, as a kill by Line and service ace from Carley Nicholson, started a run for the Redbirds. The Braves' fourth service error, followed by a net violation, had the Redbirds within two points of Bradley. Sydney Holt's first kill of the match off of the Illinois State bench had the Redbirds within reach, forcing the Braves to use a timeout holding a slim 16-15 advantage. Out of the timeout, Holt tallied another kill to level the set at 16-all. The Braves regained their lead, responding with three-straight points to force Illinois State to call its final timeout of the set. Line offered a kill to bring the Redbirds within one, trailing 21-20. It was neck-and-neck until the end, as Bradley took a 2-0 lead in the match after a 25-22 win.
Set 3 >> With Bradley leading 10-4, Illinois State used its first timeout to regroup. Out of the break, a service error by the Braves helped the Redbirds regain possession, but Bradley bounded back to take a six-point edge. Bradley's seventh service error, kept Illinois State within five, sitting at an 11-6 deficit. Illinois State went on a 3-0 scoring run, forcing the Braves to call a timeout after a solo block by Stockman in the middle added pressure to the home team. Another block at the net, this time by Stockman and Ella Francis, had the Redbirds within two, trailing 16-14. With Bradley leading 19-16, Illinois State used its first timeout of the set. Out of the break, the Braves scored a quick two points to take a 21-16 lead. With the Braves sitting at a 23-17 advantage, the Redbirds scored three unanswered points to force Bradley to use its final timeout. The Redbirds continued to run, coming within one on a block at the net by Stockman and Holt with the Braves sitting at match point, before Bradley held on for the 25-23 third-set win.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State will learn of its seeding at the upcoming MVC Championship, set for Nov. 22-24 in Springfield, Missouri, at the conclusion of the Valley regular season tomorrow night.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more
