NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team (7-5, 5-3 MVC) will make the short trip north to Chicago this weekend to face Loyola (6-3, 5-3 MVC). The series opener on Sunday is set for a 3 p.m. first serve, while Monday's match will begin at 2 p.m.
FOLLOW THE MATCH
Both matches will air on ESPN+, while live stats will also be available for fans to follow the Redbirds.
SUCCESS ON SUNDAY
With the Missouri Valley Conference's new format this season, the Redbirds are a perfect 4-0 in their first outing against league opponents, while holding a 1-3 record in the second matchup. While Illinois State leads all major statistical categories in series-opening contests, the Redbirds struggle in hitting percentage and blocks the second go-around.
CLOSING IN ON 1,000
Kaylee Martin turned in a combined 28 kills this weekend in the Redbirds' split with Valparaiso. The senior needs just 11 kills to reach 1,000 for her Illinois State career. The three-year Redbird led the team in kills last season with 526, which was the most by a Redbird since 1996. Martin's 989 career kills moves her into a tie at 22nd all-time with former Redbird and current Senior Associate AD of Compliance & Student Services, Cindy Harris. When she accomplishes this feat, Martin will be the only three-year player in the 1,000-kills club.
SETTING IT UP
Senior standout Stef Jankiewicz has moved up to third all-time in Illinois State program history with 4,448 career assists. As a sophomore in 2018, Jankiewicz had become the second-fastest setter in Redbird volleyball history to reach the top 10. Only Marisa Brickley (5,614) and Erin Lindsey (5,524) rank higher than Jankiewicz in the record book.                        Â
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