MURRAY, Ky. – The Illinois State volleyball team topped Murray State in four sets for their third straight road victory in 2024. With the victory, Illinois State improves to 15-15 on the season and 10-7 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
With the loss, the Racers fall to 14-12 and 9-8 in conference play.
SET SCORES
Illinois State defeats Murray State in four sets: 18-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-23
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
After Murray State began the match with three of the first four points, Illinois State responded to score seven of the next eight points for the 8-4 lead. The Racers would battle to keep it close as the home team took a 15-11 lead at the midway point of the set. From there, the Racers kept the pressure on as they eventually led by seven at 20-13 before closing the set three of the final four points for the 25-18 set one win.
Set 2
Set two would start off with the teams battling before the Redbirds pulled ahead thanks to a Mikayla Aupiu service ace to make it 7-3. Murray State would once again keep it close, trailing by no more than four, as ISU would not surrender the lead throughout the rest of set two. Down the stretch, ISU would close the set and halt any Racer comeback effort for the 25-19 set two win and tie the set score at one set apiece.
Set 3
Illinois State opened the third set with six straight before the Racers rallied to make it a two-point game with four straight to make the score read 6-4. The score would eventually be tied at 10-10 before the Redbirds offense struck again for a 3-0 run for the 13-10 lead. Despite Murray State trimming the lead to one at 14-13, Illinois State remained focused and never let go of the lead, eventually leading by as many as six down the stretch. The Redbirds would close set three with a Hannah Reichensperger kill for the 25-22 set win.
Set 4
Set four was tightly contested throughout the beginning of action, as the lead would not be more than two before a Redbird run gave ISU a 10-16 lead. Murray State would eventually tie the score at 12-12, but the Redbirds offense remained red-hot as they built out a 20-16 lead as the visitors looked to close out the match. Despite ISU leading by four late, Murray State would remain resilient as the Racers closed the margin to one at 24-23 before an Aida Shadewald kill gave ISU the 25-23 set four win and the match.
ILLINOIS STATE STATS LEADERS
Kills:Â Aida Shadewald (21)
Digs: Sammi Bunch (13)
Assists: Mekaila Aupiu (53)
Service Aces: Caitlyn Little (3)
Total Blocks: Hannah Reichensperger (3)
ILLINOIS STATE NOTES
- Illinois State (.314) outhit Murray State (.281)
- Senior Mekaila Aupiu sets a new career high in assists with 53
- Sophomore Caitlyn Little recorded her sixth double-double of 2024 with 15 kills and 11 digs
UP NEXT
Illinois State wraps up the regular season with a midweek matchup against I-74 foe, Bradley, on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT inside CEFCU Arena.
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