TULSA, Okla. – The Illinois State volleyball team (4-1) pulled off its second sweep in just as many matches Friday night with a 3-0 win against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (3-3).
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
On the team's gritty defense…
"I think that Oral Roberts set the tone defensively, and we had to meet them with their level of intensity. Their crowd was fantastic, and I love that we got battle tested in extra points and key serving situations. These are opportunities that we can learn from and grow. Overall, we were very steady defensively with no reception errors."
On never-give-up mentality…
"This was the most intense environment we've been in this year, and it was good for our younger players to experience that. I was very pleased with the poise that Kendal (Meier) showed. Her serve-receive was exceptional and we trusted our side-out game immensely."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> It was a back-and-forth battle from the beginning, as the opening set featured 10 ties and three lead changes. Oral Roberts took a 9-7 advantage, before a kill from Sarah Kushner brought the ball back into the hands of ISU. Carley Nicholson's first service ace of the match, and eighth of the day, leveled the set at nine-all. Freshman Emmy Ogogor dumped an overpass to give the Redbirds a 15-13 lead, before a kill and ace by Kaylee Martin forced the Golden Eagles to take a timeout with ISU out in front by three. Kushner placed a tip over the block to give the opening frame to the Redbirds, 25-18.
Set 2 >> A block on the outside by Monica Miller and Ogogor helped the Redbirds jump out to an 8-5 advantage in the second set. With ISU's third service ace of the match, this time delivered by Kendal Meier, Oral Roberts was forced to call a timeout sitting at a 10-4 deficit. Out of the Golden Eagles' final timeout, a block by Sydney Holt and Stef Jankiewicz helped the Redbirds to their largest lead of the match, 17-8. Oral Roberts crept within four, but an Ogogor kill kept ISU out in front, 20-14. The Redbirds sealed the second set 25-18 with a kill on the outside by Kushner.
Set 3 >> An attacking error by ORU, followed by a service ace from Jankiewicz, pushed Illinois State out in front, 8-4, to force the Golden Eagles to use a timeout. The Golden Eagles leveled the set at nine-all, before ISU was able to pull away and a block by Miller and Holt helped the Redbirds to a 12-9 advantage. Out of an ORU-called timeout, Holt ended a long rally with her ninth kill of the match, as ISU held a 15-9 lead. Back-to-back kills by Martin helped surge the Redbirds ahead, 21-16, the Golden Eagles kept adding pressure on ISU and clawed back to level the set at 24-all. As the intensity grew in the gym, ISU stayed composed, as Miller's fifth kill helped the Redbirds secure the final set, 30-28.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State will close the ORU Invitational on Saturday afternoon against Air Force. First serve between the Redbirds and the Falcons is set for 1:30 p.m.
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