Redbirds Conclude Regular Season with Win over Bradley

PEORIA, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team's regular season came to a close with a four-set win over Bradley on Wednesday from the Renaissance Coliseum in Peoria, Illinois.

After dropping the first set, Illinois State trailed twice early on in set two but would respond to score six of the last ten points before ultimately winning the set by a final of 25-15.

Set three would see ISU hold a five-point lead on multiple occasions before opening the set wide open with a 7-2 scoring run and scoring the final two set points to win set three 25-13, taking the two-to-one set advantage over the Braves.

Finally, in set four, the 'Birds dropped the first two points but rallied to hold as big as a 11-point lead before wrapping up the victory with a fourth set victory of 25-16.

Sophomore Aida Shadewald had a match-high 20 kills, setting a new individual four-set career high in the process as well. Meanwhile, graduate student Mari Hinkle dug a match-high 34 ball on Wednesday while senior Nora Janka contributed 21 digs of her own against the Braves.

The Redbirds conclude the regular season at 12-18 overall and 10-8 in the MVC while the Braves see the 2023 season end with a record of 9-22 overall and 2-16 in the MVC.

SET SCORES

Illinois State defeats Bradley (3-1): 22-25, 25-15, 25-13, 25-16

ILLINOIS STATE STATS LEADERS

Kills: Aida Shadewald (20)

Digs: Mari Hinkle (34)

Assists: Emily Weber (47)

Service Aces: Emily Weber (3)

Total Blocks: Emily Weber (3)

ILLINOIS STATE

- Illinois State (.255) outhit Bradley (.083)

- Sophomore Emily Weber posted her 23rd straight match with at least 20 assists, finishing with 47 against the Braves on Wednesday. This is the fourth time in 2023 that Weber has 40+ assists in a match for ISU.

- Freshman Caitlyn Little posted a new career high for kills, finishing with 10 on the evening.

- Illinois State will be the 6th seed in the upcoming MVC Tournament from Springfield, Missouri next week.

UP NEXT

The Redbirds kickstart their time in the 2023 MVC Tournament with a matchup against Missouri State at 6 p.m. Sunday evening.

For all latest on Illinois State volleyball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

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