NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Illinois State volleyball team flew past Belmont in the first-ever meeting between the programs at Curb Event Center on Friday as the Redbirds won in convincing three-set fashion.
Freshmen had 31 of the team's 39 kills, led by a double-double from freshman Aida Shadewald, who tallied 12 kills and 12 digs with a .333 hitting percentage. Shadewald also had a career-high four service aces.
Freshman Hannah Reichensperger had six kills on a .600 hitting percentage to go with a career-high five blocks.
The latest the Redbirds trailed was nine points into a set (trailed 5-4 in the third set, 4-3 in the second set were the Redbirds' latest deficits - did not trail in opening set) as ISU controlled the majority of the match.
Illinois State jumps to 10-11 overall and 3-7 in the MVC while Belmont drops to 7-15 overall and 3-7 in the MVC.
SET SCORES
Illinois State defeats Belmont (3-0): 25-20, 25-15, 25-14
ILLINOIS STATE STATS LEADERS
Kills: Aida Shadewald (12)
Digs: Aida Shadewald and Kaity Weimerskrich (12)
Assists: Emily Weber (30)
Service Aces: Adia Shadewald (4 - career-high)
Total Blocks: Hannah Reichensperger (5 - career-high)
ILLINOIS STATE NOTES
-Illinois State (.308) outhit Belmont (.078)
-.078 is the lowest hitting percentage by a Redbird opponent this season
-Shadewald recorded her sixth double-double and now ties senior Sarah Kushner for the team lead in the category.
-Illinois State's nine service aces are the tied for the most it's had in a match since 9/3/2021.
UP NEXT
Illinois State travels to Murray State (October 22) next.
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