NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team will face its first top-25 opponent this weekend, as well as two opponents for the first time in program history, when it travels to the Cougar Challenge, hosted by Washington State, in Pullman, Washington.
The Redbirds (5-1) will open the tournament with a pair of matches against Stony Brook (3-5) and nationally-ranked tournament host Washington State (4-0) on Friday at 12 p.m. CT and 9:30 p.m. CT, respectively, before closing their third tournament of the season against McNeese (0-7) on Saturday at 12 p.m. CT.
Strong Start
Illinois State is currently sitting at 5-1 through the first two weeks of the season – its best start since the 2013 campaign. The Redbirds have yet to go to a fifth set, making it the first time since the 2007 season that Illinois State has done it this far into the season. In 2007, Illinois State didn't play in a five-set match until its 13th match into the season. The Redbirds' three sweeps in their first six games marks the second time in four years that Illinois State has done so, as the Redbirds swept three-straight opponents in their first six matches during the 2015 season.
Unchartered Territory
The Redbirds have only played the Cougars twice, dropping both matches at home in 1988, and will be playing Stony Brook and McNeese for the first time in ISU's program history. Illinois State's appearance in the State of Washington will be the Redbirds' first time ever playing a match in the Evergreen State.
Hometown Hero
Senior Ali Line was named the Top Dawg Challenge's Most Valuable Player, and the Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week, after finishing this last weekend with a team-best 26 kills on .438 hitting, averaging 2.60 kills per set. She reached double-digit kills against Eastern Illinois and Auburn to lead the team, while finishing with the second-most against Butler. Line's 11 kills against the Panthers matched a career-high for the senior, dating back to the 2016 season. She also matched a career-high in digs with four against Eastern Illinois, while finishing the weekend with a team-best 32.0 points for the Redbirds. Heading into the third weekend of competition, Line is currently seventh overall in the MVC in hitting percentage.
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