EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Seven Redbirds recorded at least one block, while Emmy Ogogor led the defensive charge with seven, in Illinois State's 3-2 setback at Evansville. The Redbirds and the Aces are now each 2-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Kaylee Martin tallied 21 kills – her fifth 20-kill performance of the season – while Sydney Holt registered a career-high 16 kills on .419 hitting in the loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> A block by Stef Jankiewicz and Sydney Holt set the tone early, as Sarah Kushner followed with a service ace to give ISU an early lead. The Redbirds went on a 6-0 run behind a solo block from Kushner and a kill by Emmy Ogogor to push ISU ahead, 10-5, and force the Purple Aces to call a timeout. Kaity Weimerskirch – who earned the starting libero spot in tonight's match – delivered the Redbirds' second ace of the match to give ISU a six-point cushion. Evansville called its final timeout of the set, as Jankiewicz delivered an ace to push the Redbirds to 20 points. Martin's fifth kill and fourth ace of the set for ISU, helped the Redbirds to a 23-12 advantage, before a service error by the Aces helped ISU seal the opening set, 25-13.
Set 2 >> Weimerskirch's second ace of the match – and 11th of the season – helped the Redbirds take an early 7-5 lead in the second set. Evansville crawled its way back to level the set at 11-all with a service ace, as ISU used its first timeout of the match. The pair went back-and-forth until the Aces jumped out to a 15-13 advantage. A 4-0 scoring run by the home team pushed Evansville out to a 21-17 lead, before Holt's team-leading eighth kill ended the Aces' run. Two quick kills by Ogogor, followed by a block by the freshman and Martin, brought ISU back within one. A solo block in the middle helped the Aces secure the second set, 25-22, to level the match at one set apiece.
Set 3 >> Evansville opened the third set on a 7-1 run, before a service error by the Aces gave the ball back to the Redbirds. ISU responded with a 3-0 run behind a trio of errors by the Aces, but Evansville charged ahead for a 12-4 advantage. Martin reached double digit kills of the 14th time in 15 outings this season, registering her 10th of the match to interrupt Evansville's scoring run. Jankiewicz and Holt teamed up on the block for the third time, before Kendee Hilliard came off the bench and tallied a pair of kills. A block by Lynch and Nicole Lund, followed by a kill from Holt, brought ISU within five to force the Aces to call a timeout. Out of the break, Evansville held on for the 25-19 set win behind a kill from the three-time MVC Freshman of the Week.
Set 4 >> A pair of kills by Lynch helped ISU take an early lead in the fourth set, but Evansville responded with a 5-0 run to force the Redbirds to call a timeout. A pair of bad sets by Evansville brought ISU within one, trailing 7-6, before the Redbirds' 11th block leveled the set at seven-all. A kill by Martin – her 12th of the match – helped ISU hold the 12-11 edge. The ISU block stood firm at the net, as Lynch and Holt helped knot the set at 15-all for the eighth tie of the set. An ace by Nicholson and kill by Holt pushed ISU ahead 18-16, forcing Evansville to call a timeout. Lynch's career-high sixth block, and Ogogor's sixth block, sealed the fourth set for ISU, 25-21.
Set 5 >> Martin tallied two kills to start the fifth set, aiding ISU's efforts for a 4-1 advantage. Evansville committed back-to-back errors heading into the media timeout, as the Redbirds held on to the 7-4 lead. Out of the break, the Aces leveled the set at seven-all on a 3-0 scoring run. Holt tallied her career-high 16th kill, while Martin reached her fifth 20-kill game of the season, but Evansville held on for the 15-13 fifth-set win to take the match, 3-2.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State will continue its journey on the road this weekend, when it travels to I-74 rival Bradley on Friday night. First serve between the Redbirds and the Braves is set for 6 p.m. at the Renaissance Coliseum.
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