CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team (13-8, 6-3 MVC) fell in a four-set heartbreaker at Southern Illinois (12-12, 4-6 MVC) Friday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> Illinois State jumped out to a 7-5 lead behind a pair of kills from Taylor Lynch, Monica Miller and Emmy Ogogor, before SIU leveled the set on a Redbird hitting error. The Salukis continued their run, taking a 12-8 lead on a 5-1 run to force the Redbirds to use their final timeout of the set. Out of the break, Ogogor's match-leading third kill paused the scoring rally by SIU, before a kill by Kaylee Martin on an overpass brought ISU within three. With the Salukis sitting at set point, Ogogor tallied her fifth kill for a .500 hitting percentage in the opening set, despite falling 25-18.
Set 2 >> The Redbirds opened the second set on a 4-1 run behind a pair of kills from junior Sydney Holt. Martin tallied her third kill and delivered ISU's first service ace of the match to extend the Redbirds' lead to eight points as SIU used its final timeout sitting at a 12-4 deficit. The Salukis responded with a pair of quick points, before a kill by Lynch kept the Redbirds out by seven. ISU surged ahead for a 19-7 advantage with Carley Nicholson behind the service line, who registered another ace for the Redbirds. A Sarah Kushner kill pushed the Redbirds to 20 points, before ISU secured the second set 25-14 on Lynch's sixth kill.
Set 3 >> Stef Jankiewicz delivered a kill in the third set, before teaming up with Holt to give ISU its first two points of the set. The Salukis followed with a 6-2 run, holding a 9-4 advantage early on. ISU responded with kills from Kushner, Holt and Lynch to bring the Redbirds within two, as SIU called a timeout. Out of an ISU-called timeout, Martin tallied back-to-back kills, while a service ace delivered by Holt leveled the set at 16-all. Lynch slammed an overpass back down on SIU's side to give the Redbirds a 20-19 edge, before the Salukis held on for the 26-24 third-set win.
Set 4 >> Illinois State used an early timeout sitting at a 5-2 deficit, before using its final timeout trailing 9-4. Holt registered a kill and an ace to start a mini scoring run for the Redbirds, before the Salukis regained possession. Paige Hilliard subbed into the match and registered her first kill to bring ISU within two, before Jankiewicz and Holt teamed up for the Redbirds' eighth block. Out of a SIU-called timeout, Martin's team-leading 10th kill evened the set at 14-all as a hitting error by the Salukis gave the Redbirds a 17-16 edge. A block by Jankiewicz and Ogogor kept ISU ahead, before SIU fought back for a 20-19 lead. The Salukis used their final timeout, before holding on for a 25-23 win in the deciding set.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State will close the month of October tomorrow night at Missouri State. First serve between the Redbirds and the Bears is set for 6 p.m. at Hammons Student Center. Â
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