TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Illinois State volleyball team (4-4, 2-2 MVC) battled Indiana State (2-3, 2-2 MVC) on Monday, falling in four sets to split the two-match series with the Sycamores.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> Illinois State opened on a 4-1 run behind early kills from Sarah Kushner and a service ace delivered by Kaylee Martin. The Redbirds kept a two-point cushion until the Sycamores crawled back with a kill on an Illinois State overpass, before taking their first lead on an ace. Heading into the media break, the Redbirds were trailing by three, despite a team-leading four kills from Kaitlyn Prondzinski. Indiana State took its largest lead of the set, 17-13, before the Redbirds responded with a run behind kills from Kushner and Nora Janka for a Sycamore timeout. Trailing by three, and with Jessica D'Ambrose behind the service line, Illinois State climbed back to come within one, sitting at a 22-21 deficit. An attacking error by the Sycamores at set point kept the Redbirds alive, before Indiana State grabbed the first set, 25-22.
Set 2 >> The Redbirds fought back in set two, opening on a 5-1 run behind a big block from Martin and Lund, and kills from each of them. Indiana State put together a run of its own to jump in front, 8-6, and force the Redbirds to use a timeout. Martin's team-leading seventh kill squashed the Sycamore run and sent the senior behind the service line. Back-to-back aces delivered by Kaity Weimerskirch pushed Illinois State back out in front for a 15-13 lead midway through the set. Indiana State battled back to hold a one-point edge, but a block on the outside by Martin and Lund silenced the Sycamore threat to level it at 19-all. With the Sycamores sitting at set point, Martin delivered a kill on the outside, but Indiana State sealed it 25-22 with a kill on the opposite side.
Set 3 >> Indiana State jumped out to an early lead in the third set, holding an 8-5 advantage. A Prondzinski kill added some life in the Redbirds, before the freshman teamed up with Lund for a block at the net, pushing the Redbirds ahead, 9-8. Out of an Illinois State-called timeout, the Redbirds crawled back from a three-point deficit to knot the score at 11. A kill by Stef Jankiewicz on an Indiana State overpass gave Illinois State its largest lead of the set, holding a 14-12 lead over the Sycamores. Another kill from Jankiewicz helped the Redbirds surge ahead, 23-18, before securing the third set, 25-20, with Lund's seventh kill.
Set 4 >> A Sycamore service ace paired with an Illinois State attacking error helped Indiana State take a 7-2 lead to force the Redbirds to use an early timeout. Unable to shake the Sycamore run, Indiana State held its largest lead of the match – an eight-point advantage – before a service error by the Sycamores helped the Redbirds end the run. A Martin kill brought some life back into the Redbirds, sitting at a 12-4 deficit, before back-to-back kills from the senior forced Indiana State to use a timeout holding onto an 18-11 lead. Martin led the way for Illinois State in the deciding set with eight kills, but the Sycamores held off the Redbirds for a 25-17 fourth-set win to split the series.
LEADING THE FLOCK
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
On weekend split with the Sycamores…
"The Indiana State team we saw this weekend is the best I've seen them. They had an answer for everything. They scored in all areas of the net and put pressure on us. We had streaks, but the whole weekend felt high and low with execution. I thought we did a nice job with overall effort and competitiveness, but our execution was streaky.
On returning to play at Redbird Arena…
"Ultimately, it's about where we trend. With so many people on our roster getting opportunities and experience, that should only aid us in the long run. We're also excited and ready to be back in Redbird Arena for the next couple of weeks."
UP NEXT
Illinois State will return to Redbird Arena for a four-match home swing with a pair of series against Drake (Feb. 14-15) and Valparaiso (Feb. 21-22).
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.
