PULLMAN, Wash. – The Illinois State volleyball team (6-2) never gave up in its four-set loss to No. 23 Washington State (6-0) on Friday evening, as the Cougars handed the Redbirds their first loss in five matches. The Redbirds' 6-2 overall record matches their best start since the 2015 season.
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
On team's overall performance…
"Offensively, we were able to score points. They (Washington State) had a very effective blocking game tonight, and we didn't make adjustments with that until the third set. I think the difference in the match was the serve and pass game. They served really tough and we weren't as strong as they were. I still thought that despite that, we stayed creative and stayed strategic. We can learn and grow so much from this match, and we need to see this as an opportunity of what our level can be."
On individual performances…
"I was really impressed with Lexi (Varga) tonight. She had to warm into it, but once she was there, she was locked in. Courtney (Pence) was a player maker defensively for us, and Marissa (Stockman) is still scoring for us, which has been key."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> Despite a kill from libero Courtney Pence and right side hitter Monica Miller, the Cougars opened on a 7-2 run to hold the five-point advantage. Back-to-back errors by the Cougars brought the Redbirds within three points. Three-consecutive mistakes by Washington State had Illinois State within a single point of the Cougars, before a kill by Marissa Stockman knot the set at nine-all. Illinois State jumped out to its first lead of the set after Miller's fourth kill of the match, but Washington State regained its lead and held on for a 25-19 opening-set win, after the Redbirds and Cougars went back-and-forth in the final points of the opening frame.
Set 2 >> Washington State jumped out to a six-point advantage, leading the Redbirds, 12-6, as the Cougars were hitting .340 to Illinois State's .174. Out of an Illinois State timeout, Stockman's team-leading fifth kill of the match brought the ball back into the hands of the Redbirds, but Washington State regained control to take a quick eight-point lead. Sydney Holt checked into the match to bring some life to the Redbirds and end the Cougars' scoring run. Washington State reached 20 first, but Illinois State didn't let that phase them, as the Redbirds went on a 3-0 scoring run of their own that included a service ace by Carley Nicholson. The Redbirds and the Cougars exchanged points once again at the end of the set, but Washington State took a 2-0 lead in the match with a 25-14 second-set win.
Set 3 >> Illinois State came out of the locker room on fire to start the third set, as the Redbirds opened on a 5-0 run with a pair of kills from Miller and Stockman, forcing Washington State to call its first timeout. The Redbirds kept hammering it at the nationally-ranked Cougars, as Stockman, Miller and Lexi Varga accounted for all of Illinois State's first eight points for an 8-0 lead. Illinois State continued its momentum, as the Redbirds were the first to reach 15 in the set with a 15-10 advantage. Washington State closed the gap to come within just two of the Redbirds, but Illinois State called a timeout with a 20-18 lead to regroup. The Cougars' 13th hitting error of the match gave Illinois State the third set, 25-21.
Set 4 >> A pair of kills by Miller gave Illinois State some early momentum, but four-straight points pushed Washington State out to an early 6-2 lead. With the Cougars' largest lead – seven points – Illinois State used its final timeout of the set, trailing 14-7. The Redbirds closed in on Washington State, pulling within four, but the Cougars hit the 20-point mark first, holding the 20-14 lead. Illinois State never gave in in the final set, as the Redbirds tallied a pair of points with the Cougars sitting at set point, but Washington State pulled out the 25-21 set win to take the match, 3-1.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State will conclude its third tournament of the 2018 season tomorrow at 12 p.m. CT against McNeese.
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