CARBONDALE, Ill. – Illinois State volleyball (8-9, 3-1 MVC) picked up their third straight MVC win of the 2024 season, defeating the Southern Illinois Salukis (8-8, 1-4 MVC) in four sets on Saturday afternoon.
After winning set one, the Birds dropped set two before taking sets three and four for the match win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Redbirds would go on an 4-0 run early in set one to force a Salukis timeout at 10-7. Southern Illinois would soon trim the margin to only one as ISU called timeout, leading 13-12. The Birds kept the lead and see a lead as many as four (19-15) before SIU crawled back to make it 21-20 and force the final set timeout by ISU. The Salukis staved off three set points before ISU closed it out with a 25-22 set one win.
The second set saw the two sides go back-and-forth before a 3-0 run by the Redbirds break the lead open a bit, with the Birds ahead 12-9 as SIU called timeout. Out of the break, there would be six ties before ISU forced the final timeout of the set by SIU at 20-18. The Salukis came out of the break on fire, closing the set on a 7-0 run for the 25-20 win in set two.
The Redbirds led by three early in set three as the Salukis worked to keep the margin close and would eventually get to within one at 10-9. The score would be tied at 15-15 before the Birds rallied off a 4-1 run to pull ahead 19-16 and make SIU burn a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Birds remained focused and would not let go of the lead to take set three, 25-22.
In set four, the Redbirds held an early four-point lead off a 6-1 run to be ahead 7-3. Illinois State would score seven of the next 12 points in the match to build out a 14-8 lead prior to an SIU timeout. The ISU lead reached as many as seven as SIU fought to keep in the match and force a decisive fifth set. The Salukis went on a 4-0 scoring run down the stretch to trim the lead to two, but ISU would close it out with a 25-22 set four win.
SET SCORES
Illinois State defeats Southern Illinois in four sets: 25-22, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22
ILLINOIS STATE STATS LEADERS
Kills: Caitlyn Little (16)
Digs: Sammi Bunch & Aida Shadewald (18)
Assists: Mekaila Aupiu (45)
Service Aces: Aida Shadewald & Lauren Salata (4)
Total Blocks: Three players (2)
ILLINOIS STATE NOTES
- Illinois State (.222) was outhit by Southern Illinois (.263)
- Two Redbirds recorded double doubles on Saturday
- Aida Shadewald tallied her 10th double-double of 2024 (15 kills, 18 digs)
- Caitlyn Little tallied her first double-double of the season (16 kills, 12 digs)
- Four Redbirds recorded double digit digs (Shadewald, Bunch, Little, Aupiu)
- Illinois State wins for the first time in Carbondale since October 2021
UP NEXT
Illinois State hosts Indiana State and Evansville for Alumni Weekend next Friday and Saturday. Both matches will begin at 6:00 p.m. CT inside CEFCU Arena.
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