SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The No. 2 seeded Illinois State Redbirds (25-6) return to the Missouri Valley Conference championship match on Saturday, after sweeping No. 6 Drake (21-14) on Friday. The Redbirds' appearance in the championship final marks the second time since 2014, when Illinois State won the tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
On utilizing newcomers effectively…
"We felt like we wanted to make sure we utilized everyone, and Kaylee (Martin) has been coming on strong lately. We wanted to give her more time on the court and use her strength, and she really helped lead the charge."
On the team's block at the net…
"I thought we stayed pretty aggressive with our blocking. We were able to manage the block on the outside, forcing Drake to make adjustments and use their middles more, but we weathered it and stayed firm."
On four Redbirds reaching double-digit digs…
"Part of the reason we decided to solo block on the right, is that we felt confident in the right back position with Stef (Jankiewicz) and Carley (Nicholson) defending. We handled it well and we scored out of system well, based on that positioning."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> Despite three early kills from Marissa Stockman, the Redbirds trailed the Bulldogs, 11-7, as they called their first timeout to get settled. Out of the break, a kill by Ali Line and Lexi Wallen brought Illinois State within one, before Line teamed up with Stef Jankiewicz for a block to knot the set at 11-all. Another block at the net by Jankiewicz and Line pushed the Redbirds ahead, as the two sides began exchanging points back-and-forth. Drake pushed ahead for an 18-15 lead, forcing Illinois State to use its final timeout. Out of a challenge issued by Drake, Illinois State responded with a pair of points behind a Bulldog service error and kill by Wallen, trailing 20-18, with Courtney Pence behind the service line. A kill off of the bench by Sydney Holt, followed by a block by Line and Wallen, evened the set at 20-all. Trailing 21-20, Illinois State came back to take the first set 25-23, after a solo block by Wallen sealed the opening frame for the Redbirds.
Set 2 >> Drake took an early lead in the second set, but a hitting error by the Bulldogs helped Illinois State tie the set at four-all. The Bulldogs quickly pulled ahead for a three-point advantage, but another pair of mistakes by Drake had the Redbirds within reach. A block at the net by Line and Wallen, and Drake's 11th attack error, gave Illinois State its first lead of the set, forcing the Bulldogs to use a timeout. The Redbirds continued their scoring run, taking a 13-9 lead, behind two more hitting errors and a kill by Stef Jankiewicz. Back-to-back service aces by the Bulldogs slowed down Illinois State's momentum, as the Redbirds used their final timeout holding a slim 17-15 advantage. Three-straight kills by Kaylee Martin out of the timeout put the back into the hands of the Redbirds and helped Illinois State to a 20-15 lead over the Bulldogs. Martin's team-high eighth kill brought Illinois State within two of set point, before Line crushed it on the right side for a 25-22 second-set win.
Set 3 >> Line's seventh kill of the match, followed by a service ace from Courtney Pence, helped the Redbirds to a 9-8 edge early on. Another service ace, this time by Carley Nicholson, continued Illinois State's momentum with another kill by Line keeping the ball in the hands of the Redbirds. Out of a Drake-called timeout, the Bulldogs regained possession and came within one of Illinois State, before a service error ended Drake's run. Once again, the Bulldogs came within a point of the Redbirds, as Illinois State called its first timeout holding a 15-14 lead. The teams exchanged points back-and-forth, before Illinois State pushed ahead by two behind kills from Martin and Monica Miller, forcing the Bulldogs to use their final timeout. Drake leveled the set at 19-all, but Wallen's season-high ninth kill pushed the Redbirds back out in front. Illinois State used three-straight kills from Martin to seal the third set, 27-25, to help the Redbirds advance to the MVC championship match for the first time since 2014, and just the third time since 2007.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State will make an appearance in the MVC championship match for the first time since the 2014 campaign, facing either No. 1 UNI or No. 4 Valparaiso. The championship is set to begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
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