NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team (22-5, 14-1 MVC) won a five-set thriller against the visiting No. 25 UNI Panthers (19-8, 13-1 MVC) to finish the 2018 home slate with a perfect 9-0 record.
With that victory, the Redbirds moved a half of a game ahead of the previous league-leading Panthers, winning their 10th-straight match. It also marks the second-straight season that Illinois State has taken down nationally-ranked UNI at Redbird Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> Carley Nicholson checked into the match and delivered a service ace for the second-straight match to level the set at four-all. An attack error by UNI pushed the Redbirds ahead, 7-6, but the Panthers quickly knotted the set back up. The back-and-forth battle continued, as UNI took its largest lead – three points – forcing Illinois State to use a timeout. Out of the break, a pair of kills by Lexi Varga, along with UNI's fifth attack error, evened the set for the 11th time, before Ali Line's first kill of the night pushed Illinois State ahead to force the Panthers to call a timeout. The Redbirds continued to run after the timeout, forcing UNI to use its final break in the middle of a 6-0 scoring run by Illinois State, with the Redbirds ahead, 17-14. Illinois State reached 20 first on Kaylee Martin's second kill, helping the Redbirds hold a 20-15 lead, before sealing the opening frame, 25-20, on Marissa Stockman's third kill of the match.
Set 2 >> Line and Monica Miller teamed up for back-to-back double blocks at the net to help Illinois State take a 4-0 lead over the Panthers, forcing UNI to burn an early timeout. The Redbirds continued to run out of the break, keeping the Panthers off the board, holding a 7-0 advantage. Illinois State jumped out to a 10-2 lead, and kept its cushion, behind a pair of kills from Martin. The Panthers started chipping away at the Redbirds' lead, but another kill by Martin quickly placed the ball back into the hands of Illinois State for a 15-8 lead. UNI came within four, but Varga's match-high ninth kill of the match helped the Redbirds regain momentum. Illinois State reached 20 first on a kill by Stockman after a Panther overpass, to hold a six-point advantage. UNI came within one, before tying the set at 23-all, and taking its first lead of the set on a Redbird hitting error. The Panthers pulled off the comeback, with a 26-24 win to tie the match at one-set apiece.
Set 3 >> The Redbirds started the third set similarly to the way they began the second, opening on a 4-0 run. The trend continued, as Illinois State held a five-point advantage, before UNI got on the board. Stockman and Sydney Holt teamed up for a pair of blocks at the net to push the Redbirds back to 15-8 lead, forcing the Panthers to use a timeout. Illinois State continued to charge ahead, taking a 21-13 lead over the Panthers behind attack errors by UNI and a kill from Line. The Redbirds reached set-point on a kill by Holt, before taking a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-14 third-set win.
Set 4 >> UNI responded in the fourth set, opening on a 5-1 run, before Varga's 14th kill started some life for the Redbirds. The Panthers regained control, jumping out to a five-point lead. Martin hammered her seventh kill to put the ball back into the hands of Illinois State and start some Redbird momentum. A service ace by Line had the Redbirds within two, forcing UNI to call a timeout, holding a slim 8-6 lead. UNI jumped back out to a cushion, but a solo block by Varga brought Illinois State back within four. Back-to-back attack errors by the Panthers had the Redbirds within one, trailing 17-16. The Redbirds stayed on the heels of the Panthers, coming within one point once again on a kill by Miller. After a UNI-called timeout, the Panthers held on for a 25-22 win to force a fifth set.
Set 5 >> Illinois State started a 3-0 scoring run to take a 6-3 lead over UNI in the fifth, forcing the Panthers to call a timeout. UNI burned its final timeout, as the Redbirds continued to run, jumping out to an 8-3 advantage. The Panthers came within four of the Redbirds, as Illinois State held a 12-8 lead behind a kill from Varga and a pair of UNI mistakes. UNI didn't give up, cutting back into the Redbirds' lead, but a kill by Martin helped Illinois State secure the 15-11 fifth-set win.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State hit the road next weekend to face Loyola Chicago and Valparaiso, before closing the regular season at Bradley on Nov. 16.
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