COLUMBUS, Ohio – (RV) Illinois State out-blocked Miami (OH) 15-9 behind a team-high eight blocks by freshman Nicole Lund, but fell in four sets to the RedHawks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> Sydney Holt tallied a pair of early kills, while Sarah Kushner delivered her fourth service ace of the day to level the set at four-all early. A service ace by Kaylee Martin pushed the Redbirds ahead by two, while Kushner's second ace of the match forced Miami to call a timeout with ISU leading 15-12. The RedHawks crawled back to knot the set at 18-all, before a Miami service error pushed the Redbirds back out in front. A kill and ace by Miami helped the RedHawks to a 25-24 advantage, before Martin registered her fourth kill and Miami committed its ninth attacking error to give ISU the opening set, 30-28.
Set 2 >> Miami opened the second frame on a 4-0 scoring run, before Holt's third kill of the match helped the Redbirds jump on the board. The scoring run continued for the RedHawks, as ISU used its first timeout sitting at a 7-1 deficit. The Redbirds responded by going on a 5-0 run with Kushner behind the service line to crawl back within two of Miami. An attacking error by the RedHawks brought ISU within one, before Martin's sixth kill event the set at 10 apiece. A kill by Nicole Lund gave the Redbirds their first lead of the set, as a service ace delivered by Kendal Meier helped ISU to a 16-13 advantage. The RedHawks answered with a 5-0 scoring run to hold a one-point advantage, before a solo block in the middle by Lund leveled the set at 21-all. Miami fought back to take the second set, 25-22.
Set 3 >> The RedHawks opened on a 6-0 scoring run to start the third set. A block by Martin and Holt brought ISU back within six, trailing Miami 10-4. A kill by Lund, followed by a block by the freshman and Miller, made it 11-6 in favor of the RedHawks. Another block by the duo kept the Redbirds within four, before Miami jumped back out to a six-point lead. ISU used its final timeout sitting at a 15-9 deficit, as Miami reached set-point on an ISU attacking error and was able to take the third set, 25-17.
Set 4 >> It was a side-out battle to start the fourth, as neither team led by more than one. Miami's third attacking error of the set helped the Redbirds charge ahead by two, before a kill by Holt kept ISU on a 5-0 scoring run to force the RedHawks to call a timeout. A blocking error by ISU leveled the set at 12-all and a Miami service ace gave them the slim advantage. Martin soared for her match-leading 13th kill to end the 4-0 scoring run by Miami to keep ISU within one. Martin and Lund teamed up on the block to push ISU ahead by two, and a kill by Martin made it 17-14. An ISU ball-handling error leveled the set at 18-all and out of a Redbird-called timeout, Miller's eighth kill tied the set for the ninth time. Miami held on and fought for the 27-25 fourth-set win to take the match, 3-1.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State is set to close the Buckeye Invitational tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT against Dayton.
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