NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team (9-5, 2-0 MVC) pulled off its second sweep in as many matches, flying past Southern Illinois (9-6, 1-1 MVC) in three sets Saturday night at Redbird Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> A service ace delivered by Kaylee Martin gave the Redbirds an early 7-5 lead. With ISU on a 3-0 scoring run, the Salukis used a timeout sitting at a 13-8 deficit. Out of the break, SIU responded with a scoring run of its own to cut into the Redbirds' lead to force ISU to use a timeout holding on to the 14-11 lead. Carley Nicholson carried on her strong serving from last night, delivering a service ace for a 17-11 advantage and Saluki timeout. A kill by Martin pushed the Redbirds to 20 points, before a kill by Sydney Holt sealed the opening set, 25-17.
Set 2 >> Holt tallied her second kill of the match to push ISU out in front, 10-6, early in the second set. A blocking error by the Redbirds brought the Salukis within two, before a block at the net leveled the set at 11-all to force ISU to call a timeout. After a long rally out of the break, Martin registered her match-leading seventh kill to end SIU's scoring run and regain momentum. With Martin behind the service line, ISU took its largest lead – six points – as a part of a 5-0 scoring run behind a block by Taylor Lynch and Emmy Ogogor. Another kill by Holt brought the Redbirds to set point, before a service ace by Kaity Weimerskirch helped ISU take the second set, 25-15.
Set 3 >> SIU opened on a run, but the Redbirds quickly ended that with one of their own jumping out to an 11-8 lead to force the Salukis to call a timeout. The Salukis battled back to level the set at 12-all, before Ogogor's eighth kill gave ISU the one-point edge. SIU used its final timeout after Holt tallied her sixth kill for an 18-14 advantage for the Redbirds. Out of the break, ISU registered two quick points, including an ace by Kendal Meier, to push the Redbirds ahead to 20 points. Kills by Lynch, Holt and Martin closed the third set, 25-20, to give ISU the sweep.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State will travel to Evansville, Indiana, on Monday to take on the Purple Aces at 5 p.m., before traveling to I-74 rival Bradley on Oct. 4.
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