TULSA, Okla. – The Illinois State volleyball team (5-1) battled Air Force (1-5) in its first five-set match of the season on Saturday afternoon. The Redbirds posted a perfect 3-0 record on the weekend to win the ORU Invitational and start the season with a 5-1 record for the second-straight year.
Kaylee Martin was named the invitational's Most Valuable Player, while Sydney Holt and Kendal Meier each earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
On adjustments that had to be made…
"They (Air Force) did a nice job defending us when we were out-of-system, so we had to create more plays. We were forced to play our outside players inside and what a kill was for us in a different match this weekend, wasn't necessarily one in this match. Air Force did a great job of changing their offense all match long, forcing us to focus more on the IQ side of the game. It was great to see our team respond and play the chess match back-and-forth."
On what the team's focus will be this week…
"We want to improve on our first-ball kill. We do well in long rallies, but we want to be more efficient. Today was a five-set mental test of will, determination and endurance, and I was pleased for us to be challenged by a great team in Air Force and have to execute in the most pressure-filled situation."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> Sophomore Carley Nicholson picked up right where she left off, delivering her first service ace of the match to give ISU an early 3-0 advantage. A dump over the net by Emmy Ogogor forced the Falcons to use their first timeout with the Redbirds leading 9-3. Stef Jankiewicz delivered her second service ace of the weekend to have ISU sitting at an 11-3 lead. The Falcons fought back to level the set at 20-all, and with Air Force sitting at match-point, a kill and block by Sarah Kushner brought the Redbirds back within one before they held on for the 25-23 opening-set win.
Set 2 >> Allie Otten subbed into the match during the second set and delivered an ace to force the Falcons to take a timeout with ISU out in front, 7-3. Three more points followed with Otten behind the service line, that featured a block by Kaylee Martin and Ogogor on the outside. Martin delivered her first ace of the day to make it 13-7, before the Redbirds tallied two more quick points on an Ogogor kill and Air Force attack error. A tip over the block by Sydney Holt push ISU to a 20-9 lead, before the Redbirds were able to secure the second set, 25-12, on Martin's fifth kill.
Set 3 >> Back-to-back blocks by Ogogor and Jankiewicz helped keep the serve with Otten, as the Redbirds took an early 8-4 lead in the third. Miller's fourth kill on the outside pushed ISU to a 12-5 advantage, forcing the Falcons to call their first timeout of the set. Air Force responded with a 6-2 run to come within two of ISU, before an ace delivered by the Falcons tied the set at 16-all. Back-to-back kills out of the back row by Martin leveled the set at 23-all. A pair of late kills by Holt pushed the Redbirds to set-point, before Martin sealed it 28-26 with her match-leading 11th kill.
Set 4 >> Taylor Lynch's first kill of the match helped the Redbirds to an 8-5 advantage after an early back-and-forth battle. An attacking error by the Falcons pushed ISU ahead, 13-8, as Air Force used a timeout. Out of the break, Nicholson delivered ISU's first service ace of the set, while a Kendee Hilliard kill kept the Redbird run going. The Falcons responded with an 8-1 run to knot the set at 18-all, before an attacking error by Air Force help ISU regain the lead. A block on the outside by Lynch and Holt pushed ISU back out to a 21-19 advantage, forcing the Falcons to use their final timeout, but Air Force fought back to take the set, 27-25.
Set 5 >> Sarah Kushner delivered her first ace of the match to give ISU a 4-2 lead in the fifth set. With the Falcons in the net, ISU surged to a 7-4 advantage and Air Force used a timeout. Ogogor and Lynch teamed up on the block, while Martin followed with a kill to push the Redbirds ahead, 9-4. Lynch's fourth kill of the match gave ISU the 13-7 lead, before the Redbird sealed it with an Air Force hitting error.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State will make its 2019 home debut next weekend, when it hosts the Redbird Classic, presented by The Edge Apartments, at the newly renovated Redbird Arena. The full tournament schedule can be found on GoRedbirds.com.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
