NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team (7-4, 5-2 MVC) kept its win streak alive on Sunday night, taking down Valparaiso (3-6, 2-5 MVC) in four sets.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> Kaity Weimerskirch checked into the match as a serving sub and continued her strength behind the line, delivering back-to-back aces to kick start ISU's offense. Making her first start since Jan. 25, senior Sydney Holt recorded her first kill of the match to give the Redbirds a two-point cushion. Illinois State took its largest lead of the set on a block by Stef Jankiewicz and Nicole Lund on the outside, sitting at a 17-10 advantage. A 4-0 run by the Redbirds, led by a trio of kills from Lund, helped ISU charge ahead, 21-11, before newcomer Tamara Otene made her first career appearance and delivered an ace behind the service line to keep the Redbird run alive. A kill from Jankiewicz on an overpass sealed the opening frame, 25-12, for ISU.
Set 2 >> Valparaiso took an early lead in the second set, before a tip over the block by Holt leveled it at seven-all. A pair of kills from Kaylee Martin helped the Redbirds hold a slim two-point lead approaching the mid-way point of the set. Weimerskirch's team-leading third service ace pushed ISU out in front, 15-13, before a fourth by the sophomore helped the Redbirds surge ahead by four for a Valpo timeout. Back-to-back aces by Valparaiso forced the Redbirds to call a timeout, as the score was knotted at 20-all. A high-flying kill out of the back row by Martin helped the Redbirds to a one-point edge, before Valparaiso closed on a 3-1 run for a narrow 26-24 second-set win.
Set 3 >> The Redbirds opened set three on an 8-2 run behind a trio of kills from Martin and ISU's eighth ace, this time from Kendal Meier, for a Valparaiso timeout. Otene's first career kill pushed the Redbirds ahead by 10, before another kill from the freshman helped ISU take a commanding 18-7 lead for a timeout by Valpo. A kill from Martin out of the back row, her sixth of the set and 15th of the match, pushed the Redbirds to set point, before a service error by Valparaiso handed ISU the set, 25-12.
Set 4 >> A successful challenge by Valparaiso reversed the score early, giving the visiting team a one-point advantage. A 4-1 run by Valpo gave them an 11-7 lead – their largest of the set. The Redbirds responded with three-straight points, creeping within two for a timeout by Valparaiso. Valparaiso kept a two-point cushion throughout most of the set, despite kills from Martin, Lund and Sarah Kushner. Illinois State used its first timeout, trailing 19-15, late in the fourth set, while Kushner's second ace brought the Redbirds back within two. A solo block by Lund in the middle leveled the set at 20-all, before a kill out of the back row by Kushner gave ISU a one-point edge. With the Redbirds at match point, head coach Leah Johnson used a challenge, helping Illinois State grab the final point for a 25-21 deciding-set win.
LEADING THE FLOCK
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
On how the team looks at this point in the season…
"I think we're hitting our stride. Our depth just gets better. There are players who haven't played yet, that can come in and do the same thing as the player in front of them. I think we're very fortunate that we have enough depth to make changes any time we need and I think you saw in Tamara (Otene) that she's going to be an impact player as she finds a groove and gets into the swing of it."
On Sydney Holt returning to the lineup…
"Syd being back and being cleared to play makes a big difference, not just that she's on the court, but we have to defend her arm in the gym. We have to block against her, we have to strategize, and when you're on the other side of the net against her, she puts so much pressure on you. It also gives all of our middles a chance to compete against each other, so you're forced to improve."
UP NEXT
Illinois State will wrap up its two-match series with Valparaiso tomorrow at 4 p.m., before hitting the road for a pair of matches at Loyola Chicago next weekend.
Game dates, opponents, times and locations are subject to change. To view Illinois State's full schedule and find ways to follow the match, visit 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.
