Redbirds Fall to UNI in Straight Sets

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Illinois State volleyball (11-13, 9-3 MVC) fell in straight sets at MVC-leading UNI (18-6, 12-0 MVC) on Friday night inside the McLeod Center in one of the marquee MVC matchups of the weekend.

UNI jumped out to a five-point advantage early on in set one as the 'Birds were able to battle back to within three points on three separate occasions before the Panthers responded to get a 15-11 advantage heading into the first set media timeout.

Out of the media timeout, the home team spread the lead out to eight (22-14) before scoring three of the final four set points to take set one 25-15.

The Redbirds were on fire to start set two, going on a 5-0 run to start the set and force a UNI timeout. A series of five straight for the Panthers allowed the score to be knotted up, however. As the set would see both sides knotted at 15 apiece, UNI built the lead out to three to force an ILS timeout (19-16).

From there, the Redbirds would score five of the next seven points to tie the score once more again (21-21) and force UNI to call their second timeout of the set. However, the home team would use the noise and momentum of their 2,500 home fans to score four of the final five set points, taking the second set by a final of 25-22.

After UNI would score five of the first six points in set three, the Redbirds trimmed the deficit to two (8-6) and then graduate student Mari Hinkle went behind the service line. The Rosemount, Minn. native would go on to help ISU score three straight as the score would eventually read 9-9.  

The Panthers would rally to score six of the next eight points to take a 15-11 lead into the third set media timeout. ISU would once more battle back, trailing 17-13, to score three straight points including kills from graduate students Kara Cooper and Bella Zeman to force another Panthers timeout at 17-16.

UNI would halt any further ISU comeback, as the Panthers showed resilience and ended the match by scoring three of the final four points to secure the sweep over the Redbirds.

Hannah Reichensperger, Kara Cooper, and Aida Shadewald were the Redbirds' leaders offensively, as they posted seven (Reichensperger) and six (Cooper and Shadewald) kills, respectively.

Sophomore Emily Weber notched yet another match with at least 20+ assists, finishing with 21 on Friday against the Panthers.

Finally, Mari Hinkle would lead the match in digs as the libero tallied night 23 digs on Friday night.

SET SCORES

Illinois State swept by UNI (0-3): 15-25, 22-25, 20-25

ILLINOIS STATE STATS LEADERS

Kills: Hannah Reichensperger (7)

Digs: Mari Hinkle (23)

Assists: Emily Weber (21)

Service Aces: Emily Weber (1)

Total Blocks: Hannah Reichensperger (4)

ILLINOIS STATE NOTES

- Illinois State (.165) was outhit by UNI (.263)

- The loss breaks ILS' nine-match win streak, dating back to September 29.

UP NEXT

Illinois State will finish out their Iowa road trip as the Redbirds travel to Des Moines, Iowa to matchup with the Drake Bulldogs on Saturday with first serve at 5 p.m. CT from the Knapp Center.

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