NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team beat Southern Illinois, 3-0, for their first sweep of the 2021 season. With this win, the Redbirds improve to 6-10 on the year and 2-2 in Missouri Valley Conference play, while the Salukis fall to 5-12 and 0-4 in conference play.
Illinois State's improved serving played a large role in tonight's success, finishing the night with five service errors opposed to the squad's 16 in last night's loss. The junior duo of Kaity Weimerskirch and Sarah Kushner each served up a pair of aces, marking the second time during conference play that a pair of Redbirds has finished with at least two aces a piece.
On top of an improved night of serving, the 'Birds were able to capitalize on some long rallies and use their momentum from a series of runs throughout the match to secure the sweep (25-17, 25-21, 25-17). Once Illinois State took the lead early in each set, the Salukis were never able to answer the Redbirds' runs.
Sophomore Tamara Otene and Kushner continued to impress with each notching double-digit kills for the fifth-consecutive match. With her 14 kills, Otene not only notched a match-high, but also marked the 13th time in Illinois State's 16 matches that she's reached double digits.
In addition to five-straight matches with double-digit kills, Kushner has finished every conference match this season with a double-double (digs/kills). Tonight, the outside hitter from Naperville, Illinois, posted 11 kills and 18 digs, just two off of her career high.
Freshman Aliyah Moore is proving to be a key player amongst the Redbird squad, making strides each match. The Surprise, Arizona native finished with 11 kills and four blocks to round out Illinois State's student-athlete's that finished with double-digit kills.
QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH LEAH JOHNSON
On tonight's improved serving:
"We've spent so much time working on it and I think they were just a little out of their bodies a little. Serving at Redbird (Arena) is not the same as serving in the training gym. They served a lot this afternoon in serve and pass and I think they were finally getting their groove back. Everyone has the ability to serve for points."
QUOTE FROM FRESHMAN OH ALIYAH MOORE
On Illinois State's depth:
"Everyone on the court has the ability go in at any moment, really in any position. That puts a lot of trust in us, it doesn't matter who is on the court - you can trust every single person that is by you."
UP NEXT
The Illinois State volleyball team will hit the road for a pair of games in Indiana next weekend, Oct. 8-9, when they travel to play Indiana State and Evansville.
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