NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team (2-1) will step away from conference play this weekend, hosting Cincinnati (0-0) on Friday and Saturday at Redbird Arena. Friday's match is set to start at 4 p.m., before the pair wrap up competition at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
FOLLOW THE MATCH
To follow the Redbirds this weekend, be sure to tune into The Valley on ESPN, live stats and WZND radio. To view Illinois State's full schedule and find ways to follow all ISU volleyball matches, visit GoRedbirds.com.
REDBIRDS RECEIVING VOTES IN AVCA POLL
Illinois State is receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 Poll, which was announced by the organization on Jan. 26. This is the second time the Redbirds have been mentioned in the poll since fourth-year head coach Leah Johnson took the reins in 2017. Illinois State has made 15 appearances in the AVCA's top 25 in program history – once in 2019, 12 times in 1984 and twice in 1983 – the first year the poll was published.
Despite being opening weekend for the Bearcats, Cincinnati is also receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 Poll for the second-straight week. The Bearcats advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2019, falling to No. 11 Penn State.
BREAKING B(R)AD(LEY)
Illinois State ended a three-match slump against Bradley on Monday. Prior to 2018, the Braves had only won 1 match in 26 tries dating back to the 2005 season, before sweeping the Redbirds on Nov. 16, 2018, and then taking both matches in five sets in 2019. In the Redbirds' sweep of the Braves, ISU out-blocked Bradley, 13-3, as redshirt freshman Nicole Lund turned in a career-high and team-leading 10 blocks.
OH-KAY, MARTIN!
Kaylee Martin was highlighted as NCAA Volleyball's Performer of the Match via its social media channels Saturday night. The senior went off in the Redbirds' win, posting a double-double with 22 kills and 12 digs. On the weekend, Martin finished with 35 kills to average 4.38 per set. She also added an assist, 19 digs and six blocks. For her opening-weekend performance, helping the Redbirds go 2-1 and accounting for 28-percent of ISU's scoring, Martin was recognized as the MVC Player of the Week on Jan. 26, earning her fourth career weekly honor.                         Â
For updates on Illinois State Volleyball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdVB) and Instagram (@redbirdvolleyball).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
