Redbirds Claim Third-Straight Sweep, Defeat Flames in Three Sets

CHICAGO, Ill.  – For the first time Illinois State volleyball took to the courts of the Credit Union 1 Arena floor, as the Redbirds kept things rolling as ISU would pick up its third straight sweep in MVC play after defeating the Flames in three sets Saturday.

Individually, sophomore Aida Shadewald led the way for the Redbirds in kills with 15 while graduate student Kara Cooper added nine while sophomore Hannah Reichensperger contributed seven kills, respectively.

Sophomore Emily Weber recorded her 11th straight match with 20+ assists as she collected a team-high 29 assists Saturday. Weber would also lead the Redbirds with two service aces while being tied with Reichensperger for the team lead in blocks with four.

Most notably, after taking the first two sets (28-26, 25-21), the Redbirds began the third set on an 8-0 scoring run as graduate student Mari Hinkle anchored the run from the service line.

From there, ISU would go onto to lead by as many as nine (twice) before pulling away to claim the match in three sets.

Illinois State improves to 6-12 overall and 4-2 in the MVC while UIC drops to 13-7 overall and 4-3 in the MVC.

SET SCORES

Illinois State sweeps UIC (3-0): 28-26, 25-21, 25-15

ILLINOIS STATE STATS LEADERS

Kills: Aida Shadewald (15)

Digs: Mari Hinkle (14)

Assists: Emily Weber (29)

Service Aces: Emily Weber (2)

Total Blocks: Emily Weber / Hannah Reichensperger (4)

ILLINOIS STATE NOTES

-Illinois State (.290) outhit UIC (.156)

- With her sixth assist during the first set (17-16), sophomore Emily Weber recorded her 1,000th assist as a Redbird, becoming the 18th all-time Redbird to achieve 1,000 career assists.

- With Saturday's result, Illinois State has now secured three straight sweeps in MVC play for the first time since Oct. 29-Nov. 5, 2021, when ISU defeated Southern Illinois, Missouri State, and Evansville, respectively.

UP NEXT

Illinois State heads home to begin a five-match homestand as the Belmont Bruins and Murray State come to Normal next weekend.

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