NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team (12-4, 4-0 MVC) remained undefeated in the Missouri Valley Conference with a four-set victory over the visiting Indiana State Sycamores (7-10, 0-5 MVC) on Saturday night to close home-opening weekend for the Redbirds.
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
Overall thoughts on the match…
"I thought we started very strong. We implemented our game plan and we had good flow. They (Indiana State) flipped their lineup in set two, and it took us too long to adjust. I felt like that is something that we need to address in practice. Our flow wasn't perfect, but we talk about all the time that we don't have to play perfect to win matches. We have to continue to battle and strategize around that, and I thought our whole team did that really well."
On what it's like to have multiple hitters to set to…
"I love it. We used four different outside hitters and two different right sides tonight. We changed where they played, and I think that is such a credit to the team and their mentality, that it doesn't matter what your role is, but that you fill that role to the best of your ability. You find another way to score and you find another tool to use."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> Monica Miller and Ella Francis accounted for all of Illinois State's offensive production early, as each had two and three kills apiece, respectively, with Illinois State sitting at an 8-3 lead. Outside hitter Lexi Varga checked into the match and registered a pair of two quick kills for an early 10-3 lead and an Indiana State timeout. The Redbirds continued to produce at the net, as Illinois State was hitting .500 compared to the Sycamores' -.100. Illinois State closed on a 7-0 run that featured a pair of service aces by Carley Nicholson for a 25-11 opening-set win by the Redbirds. Â
Set 2 >> Indiana State tallied four-straight kills to take an early 6-3 lead over the Redbirds, as Illinois State used its first timeout. Out of the break, the Sycamores registered two more quick points to hold a five-point advantage. The Redbirds continued to chip away at Indiana State's lead with a service ace by Stef Jankiewicz and a Varga kill off of a Sycamore overpass, to trail 12-11. Indiana State regained a four-point lead on a 3-0 scoring run to hold a 15-11 lead, forcing the Redbirds to use their last timeout. A kill by Jankiewicz and Kaylee Martin, along with an Indiana State hitting error, had Illinois State within one to force Indiana State to burn a timeout, leading 18-17. Ali Line's first kill of the match knot the set at 19-all, before another kill by the senior had the Redbirds sitting at a 22-20 deficit. Indiana State held on to knot the match at one-set apiece with a 25-21 second-set win over the Redbirds.
Set 3 >> The teams exchanged points back-and-forth to open the third set, but a pair of kills by Line and an attack error by Indiana State, had the Redbirds out in front, 5-3. After a long rally, a kill by Miller gave Illinois State a five-point lead over the Sycamores. The Redbirds were able to maintain a five-point advantage for a majority of the set, including a kills from Jankiewicz and Francis. At the media timeout, Illinois State held a 15-9 lead, hitting .345 in the set as a team. The Redbirds reached 20 points first on a kill by Martin, as the Sycamores called a timeout, trailing 20-14. Line's seventh kill of the match secured the third set for Illinois State, 25-15, as part of a 5-0 scoring run by the Redbirds.
Set 4 >> Once again, the two teams went back-and-forth on the scoreboard, before Martin's ninth kill of the match pushed the Redbirds to a 12-9 lead. At the media break, Illinois State held a three-point advantage, as a kill by Line had the Redbirds sitting with the 15-12 edge over Indiana State. The Sycamores crept within one, but Line's 11th kill put the ball back in the hands of the Redbirds with Alyssa Kronberg behind the service line. With Illinois State out in front, 19-15, Indiana State used a timeout after a service ace by Line. A block by Line and Varga sealed the set, 25-19, for the Redbirds' fourth-straight win.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
The Redbirds will hit the road next weekend for a match-up with the UNI Panthers, who are also undefeated in Valley play, and the Drake Bulldogs, who are sitting at 2-2 in league action.
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