NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team (15-11, 8-6 MVC) will look for two more season sweeps this weekend, when it travels north to take on Valparaiso (11-17, 6-8 MVC) and Loyola Chicago (19-8, 12-2).
First serve between the Redbirds and the Crusaders is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, while Saturday's contest against the Ramblers is slated for 5 p.m.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Redbirds lead Valparaiso in the all-time series, 8-2, dating back to the 2006 campaign. Illinois State has taken all six meetings between the two programs since the Crusaders joined the Missouri Valley Conference. Since the Redbirds took down the Crusaders at home last month, Valparaiso has collected wins over Indiana State, Evansville and Southern Illinois, before most recently falling to Missouri State in five sets.
Illinois State holds the 24-3 series advantage over Loyola Chicago, winning its last eight matches against the Ramblers. Two of the Redbirds' losses came on the road, including their last lost in 2015. Loyola Chicago enters the weekend sitting at No. 2 in the Valley standings with a 12-2 record in league play, with its only losses coming to the Redbirds and UNI last month. The Ramblers hold an 8-3 record at Gentile Arena this season and are riding a five-match win streak heading into the weekend.
DOMINATING THE DOGS
Illinois State moved to 65-11 all-time against Drake with a straight-set win over the Bulldogs on Saturday night. The Redbirds have now swept the Bulldogs in their last four meetings and 41 of ISU's 65 victories have been straight-set wins.
BIRDS IN THE RANKS
A trio of Redbirds – Stef Jankiewicz, Kaylee Martin and Sydney Holt – currently rank in the top-50 nationally in a variety of statistics. Jankiewicz is sitting at No. 31 and No. 33 in total assists (996) and assists per set (10.83), respectively, while Holt has turned in the 23rd most blocks (121) this season. Martin ranks 29th in points (453.5) and 30th in total kills (401), while sitting at No. 54 in total attacks (1,025).
THE END IS NEAR
Illinois State's contests at Valparaiso and Loyola Chicago this weekend are the final road tests of the regular season for the Redbirds, before returning home to host Indiana State and Evansville for the finale. Since Leah Johnson took over the program in 2017, the Redbirds have only dropped one match in their final four contests of the regular season, falling at Bradley in 2018. Illinois State is currently holding onto the No. 4 spot in the Valley standings.
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