HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Illinois State volleyball team (0-1) opened the JMU Invitational Friday afternoon with a setback to VCU (1-0), falling in four sets (21-25, 16-25, 25-22, 18-25).
Sophomore outside hitter Tamara Otene had a game- and career-high 18 kills in the match, paired with a .400 hitting percentage. Sophomore Allie Trame and freshmen Katelyn Lefler, Aliyah Moore and Maggie Weller all made their ISU debuts.
The Rams jumped out to an early lead in the first set before a pair of kills by Kaitlyn Prondzinski leveled the score at 4-4. A back-and-forth battle ensued with neither team leading by more than three until VCU went on a 9-3 run to pull ahead 23-17. The Redbirds fought back, earning the next three points before a pair of kills by the Rams sealed the opening set. Otene posted six of her 18 kills and Kaity Weimerskirch tallied 11 of her 23 digs in the first set.
The second set followed a similar script to the first, with the Rams taking the early advantage but never leading by more than three until a 3-0 VCU run forced an ISU timeout at 17-13. The Rams proceeded to rattle off an 8-3 rally to close the set and put the 'Birds down two in the match.
The Redbirds showed their fight in the third set, continuing to battle and taking their first lead of the match, 11-10, in set three. A late surge sparked by an Otene kill at 17-all proved to be the difference, as ISU went on a 7-2 run to put the set at 24-19. An attack error by the Rams would eventually allow the 'Birds to claim the third set and force a fourth. Junior outside hitter Sarah Kushner recorded a pair of kills and a solo block during the ending rally.
The turning point in the fourth set came at 13-all, when the Rams went on a 5-0 outburst to pull ahead, 18-13, and force a Redbird timeout. ISU would pull within 19-17 off a service ace by Otene before VCU closed the set on a 6-1 advantage to take the match.
STAT LEADERS
QUOTE BY HEAD COACH LEAH JOHNSON
"Not the outcome we wanted but I'm so proud of our fight. We never gave up when things weren't going our way and found ways to rally in the face of adversity. There were some really good moments throughout the match that make me excited for when it all comes together."
The Redbirds continue play in the JMU invitational tomorrow with a pair of games versus spring NCAA Tournament participant High Point (1:30 p.m. CT) and tournament hosts JMU (7 p.m. CT).
For all latest on Illinois State volleyball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @RedbirdVB (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
