NASHVILLE, Ten. – The Illinois State volleyball team (14-15, 9-7 MVC) hit a blistering .387 in its Friday four-set win over Belmont on the road.
SET SCORES
Illinois State defeats Belmont in four sets: 18-25, 28-26, 25-11, 25-21
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
Belmont began set one by building out an early 6-2 lead before the Redbirds responded to eventually take a lead at 7-6. From there, the teams would trade points as the two sides battled down the stretch. With the score tied 17-17, Belmont rattled off five straight points to take a late 22-17 lead and would close the set on a 3-1 run to take set one, 25-18.
Set 2
Set two would start off just as competitive as set one, as neither side would lead by more than one through the first 10 set points. After being tied 5-5, the Redbirds scored the next two points as the action remained close as the Redbirds would lead 15-11 off a Caitlyn Little kill. Down the stretch, Illinois State would lead by five at 23-19 before the Bruins responded to knot the score at 25-25 and force extra points in set two. After being tied, the two sides traded points before the Redbirds closed the set with two straight for the 28-26 set two win.
Set 3
Once again, ISU used some momentum to pull ahead in set three after being tied 6-6. The Redbirds would increase the lead to as many as 13 at 22-9 before Belmont rallied to score two of the next three points to make it 23-11. However, ISU's offense would be too much as the Redbirds closed the set for the decisive 25-11 set three victory.
Set 4
Set four was tightly contested throughout the beginning of action, as the lead would not be more than two through the first 26 points of the set, including eight ties. As the score was tied 13-13, the Redbirds used back-to-back kills from Aida Shadewald to pull ahead 17-14 as they never looked back. Down the stretch, Belmont and Illinois State battled for every point, as after being tied 20-20, it was the Redbirds finishing the match on a 5-1 run to close the set and match with a 25-21 set four win.
ILLINOIS STATE STATS LEADERS
Kills: Aida Shadewald & Caitlyn Little (17)
Digs: Caitlyn Little (12)
Assists: Mekaila Aupiu (47)
Service Aces: Three players (2)
Total Blocks: Logan Grevengoed (3)
ILLINOIS STATE NOTES
- Illinois State (.387) outhit Belmont (.250)
- Sophomore Caitlyn Little recorded her fifth double-double of 2024 with 17 kills and 12 digs
- Junior Aida Shadewald recorded a .696 hitting percentage (17 kills on 23 swings)
- Little tallied a .536 hitting percentage with 17 kills on 28 swings)
UP NEXT
Illinois State heads to Murray, Kentucky to face the Murray State Racers on Saturday night with first serve at 5 p.m. CT.
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