NORMAL, Ill. – With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Illinois State volleyball team (9-5, 7-3 MVC) will welcome Evansville (5-11, 4-10 MVC) to Redbird Arena this weekend for a pair of contests. First serve between the Redbirds and the Purple Aces is set for 4 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.
The program will also recognize its five seniors – Sydney Holt, Stef Jankiewicz, Alyssa Kronberg, Kaylee Martin and Kendal Meier – via the Redbird Volleyball social media channels.
FOLLOW THE MATCH
Both matches will air on ESPN+, while live stats will also be available for fans to follow the Redbirds.
THE BIRDS ARE BACK
After a two-week hiatus, the Redbirds didn't seem to skip a beat this weekend, using seven sets to sweep the season series of Missouri State at Redbird Arena. Illinois State held the Bears to their lowest hitting percentage (.115) in league play on Sunday night, before using a 21-kill performance from Sarah Kushner to best the Bears in the four sets. The Redbirds are the first team to sweep Missouri State this conference season.
LEAVE IT TO LUND
Nicole Lund led the defensive charge for the Redbirds this weekend, recording 11 stuffs to average 1.57 blocks per set in the two matches against MSU. On Sunday, Lund turned in eight kills and led the team with five blocks, helping the Redbirds hold the Bears to their lowest hitting percentage during conference play (.115) this season. Lund returned to the court on Monday and contributed a match-leading six stuffs, while adding five kills on .250 hitting. For her performances, she was named the MVC Defensive Player and Freshman of the Week on March 16.
1,000-KILLS CLUB'S NEWEST MEMBER
Kaylee Martin turned in 15 kills in the Redbirds' sweep of Missouri State on Sunday and became the newest member of Illinois State's 1,000-kills club. The three-year Redbird led the team in kills last season with 526, which was the most by a Redbird since 1996. Martin's 1,019 career kills moves her into a tie at 19th all-time with former Redbird Lisa Rolf (1988-91). Martin is the only three-year player in the 1,000-kills club.                    Â
For updates on Illinois State Volleyball, follow the Redbirds on Twitter (@RedbirdVB) and Instagram (@redbirdvolleyball).
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