MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Illinois State volleyball team (8-4) closed its nonconference slate on Saturday night against the nationally-ranked Marquette (9-3), where the Redbirds suffered a three-set setback to the tournament host. Senior Lexi Varga was named to the Marquette Invitational All-Tournament Team. The selection is her first nod of the season.
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
On team's touches at the net…
"The stat sheet says we had six blocks, but I bet we blocked 25 balls back to their side of the court to force them to take a second swing, so our eye sequencing, our technique, helped us be effective at the net. We held them under .100 in set one, so I think it is all there, but we just couldn't close out."
On what you learned about your team during the nonconference slate…
"I think we showed that we can compete at an elite level and now we just have to sew up some of those soft spots. We are competing at a high level. There are a few things by position that we can improve on going into conference play, and if this is where we are starting going into conference play, then I am really excited because this team has a lot of room to grow. It is really going to be about where we are at the end of the year."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> After Marquette jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, Illinois State scored the next five points that included a pair of Redbirds kills and a service ace from Kendal Meier. A kill by Monica Miller, and back-to-back attack errors by the Golden Eagles, pushed Illinois State out to a 9-5 lead, as Marquette called a timeout. Back-to-back service aces by Marquette had the Golden Eagles within one of the Redbirds. Out of the break, the Golden Eagles continued their scoring run to take an 18-17 lead over the Redbirds, but a kill by Lexi Varga knot the set back up. With the Golden Eagles sitting at set point, the Redbirds powered through to draw within one of Marquette, but the Golden Eagles secured the opening frame, 25-23.
Set 2 >> It was a back-and-forth battle to start the second set, as neither team led by more than two points. A kill by Ella Francis gave Illinois State the 7-6 edge, before the Golden Eagles leveled the set back up. The Redbirds were holding Marquette to below .100 hitting, while Illinois State had a trio of Redbirds with four kills apiece to hold a 14-12 lead. Marquette used its last timeout, still hitting below .100, with the Redbirds ahead 19-16. Two quick points by the Golden Eagles out of the break had Marquette on Illinois State's toes. The Golden Eagles tied it up, but Miller's third kill of the match gave the Redbirds a one-point advantage. It was another tight finish, as Marquette came from behind to knot the set at 24-all, before taking the set, 26-24.
Set 3 >> Marquette scored six-straight points to jump out to a 9-3 lead in the third. The Redbirds continued to battle and turned two Marquette overpasses into points on the board, as the Golden Eagles called a timeout, leading Illinois State, 15-10. The two teams exchanged points back-and-forth, as Illinois State used its final timeout with Marquette ahead by five. A 6-0 scoring run by Marquette helped push the Golden Eagles take the set, 25-17, and the match.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State is set to kick off Missouri Valley Conference play on the road next weekend at Missouri State and Southern Illinois, before its long awaited home-opening weekend on Sept. 28-29.
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