TULSA, Okla. – The Illinois State volleyball team (3-1) jumped back in the win column Friday morning with its first sweep of the season, taking down Little Rock (0-4) in straight sets.
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
On the team's serving…
"As a team, we feel that on both sides of the ball we can win the serve and pass game. If we are successful at that, we can be in control of the match. I am pleased with how I can move our servers anywhere behind the line and they are able to be very specific with our serving targets. Allie (Otten) saw her first collegiate game today and was able to go on a three- or four-point serving run, and that's what separates us for the match."
On the team's overall energy…
"Our mentality going into the match was that we are never satisfied, and we can never do enough. We want this eager and urgent feeling for the entirety of a match, and I thought the team did a really good job of that. I think what helped Kaylee (Martin) and Sarah (Kushner) hit over .500 was their teammates' energy."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> The Redbirds were the first to reach 10 on a blocking error by the Trojans, before Little Rock committed three-straight attacking errors to push ISU to a 13-6 advantage. A service ace delivered by Carley Nicholson – and the first for ISU in the match – helped the Redbirds to a 17-8 lead. After being cited for out-of-rotation, and a kill by ISU's Kaylee Martin, Little Rock burned its final timeout with the Redbirds ahead, 21-9. The Trojans' fifth attacking error handed the opening set to the Redbirds, 25-13.
Set 2 >> Little Rock took its first lead of the match, sitting at a 6-3 advantage, before Martin's fifth kill gave momentum back to the Redbirds. Allie Otten subbed into the match and delivered a service ace to knot the match at six-all, before a block by Emmy Ogogor and Martin helped ISU regain the lead. Little Rock used its first timeout of the set with ISU on a 7-0 run and back-to-back service aces pushed the Redbirds ahead, 15-9. A free-ball kill by Kendal Meier helped ISU reach set point, before Martin recorded the Redbirds' ninth service ace to help ISU secure the set, 25-17.
Set 3 >> The Redbirds opened the third set on a 5-0 run to force the Trojans to call an early timeout. Otten checked back into the match to deliver back-to-back aces for the Redbirds to give ISU a 12-3 advantage. Nicole Lund registered first career kill for a 14-5 lead for the Redbirds. ISU tallied seven service aces in the third set to finish with 16 for the match, while Sarah Kushner's team-leading 14th kill of the match sealed the third set, 25-13.
LEADING THE FLOCK
STAT OF THE DAY
- 16 >> The Redbirds delivered 16 service aces – the most since the 1999 season.
UP NEXT
Illinois State returns to tournament play tonight, when it takes on the tournament host Golden Eagles at approximately 7:30 p.m.
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