CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The No. 3-seeded Illinois State volleyball team (21-11) dropped the opening set to Loyola on Friday night, before battling back to win the next three to advance to tomorrow's championship match against tournament host and No. 1-seeded UNI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> Loyola took an early lead over the Redbirds to start, before Kaylee Martin carried her offensive performance over to tonight's match to bring ISU back within three. Kendee Hilliard registered her first kill to bring the Redbirds within one, before an attacking error by Loyola leveled the set at nine-all. The Ramblers pulled ahead for a 14-10 advantage, as Leah Johnson called her first timeout with Loyola on a 5-1 run. ISU used its final timeout, trailing by six, despite a trio of kills from Martin. Out of the break, Emmy Ogogor registered a kill to bring the ball back onto ISU's side, helping the Redbirds go on a 3-1 run to come within four, but Loyola closed the set with a 25-18 win.
Set 2 >> A kill and service ace from Sarah Kushner helped the Redbirds take an early lead in the second, opening on a 6-1 run. Taylor Lynch's second kill forced the Ramblers to call a timeout, trailing 8-2, as ISU was able to maintain a seven-point advantage throughout the middle of the set. The Redbirds took their largest lead on Martin's match-leading sixth kill, sitting out in front, 17-9. Loyola responded with a 6-0 run to come within four of ISU, as the Redbirds used their final timeout. A block by Ogogor and Martin silenced the Ramblers' run to push ISU back out by six, before sealing the set, 25-17.
Set 3 >> The Redbirds opened the third set on a 4-0 run behind four-straight attacking errors by Loyola. Out of a Loyola-called timeout, ISU continued to run up the score on a block by Sydney Holt and Stef Jankiewicz. The Ramblers responded with a 4-0 run to come within one, before Kushner's fifth kill shifted momentum back in favor of ISU. Another block by Holt and Jankiewicz pushed the Redbirds out to a six-point advantage, before Loyola used its final timeout sitting at an 11-4 deficit. Holt's sixth kill helped ISU surge ahead, 15-7, sending the junior behind the serving line. Jankiewicz won a joust at the net, pushing the Redbirds out in front by ten points, before Loyola bounced back with a 5-0 run to force ISU to used both of its timeouts. The Redbirds fought off Loyola's comeback, taking the third set, 25-17.
Set 4 >> It was a back-and-forth battle from the start in the deciding set, as neither side led by more than a point, until a block by the Ramblers pushed Loyola out to an early 4-2 lead. An ace by Kendal Meier pushed the Redbirds ahead, 8-6, before Loyola called a timeout sitting at a three-point deficit. Loyola fought back to come within one on a block, but ISU went on a 4-0 run to hold a 15-10 advantage. The Redbirds used their first timeout, as the Ramblers fought back to come within three, before ISU responded with a 5-0 run to take a 22-14 lead. A kill by Holt sent ISU to match point, before Kushner's 11th kill sealed it, 25-20.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Tomorrow's championship match between No. 1 seed UNI and the No. 3Â Redbirds will be a rematch of the 2018 MVC Volleyball Championship final. First serve is set for 4 p.m. and the match can be view on The Valley on ESPN. For more information on about the championship event, fans can visit the tournament central page on the Valley's website.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
