CEDAR FALLS, Iowa. – Illinois State volleyball opened the Missouri Valley Conference tournament with a four-set victory over Missouri State.
With the win, Illinois State has earned a spot in the first semi-final and will play Monday at 3 p.m. against the one seed, UNI.
SET SCORES
Illinois State defeats Missouri State in four sets: 20-25, 27-25, 25-21, 25-20
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
Missouri State got on the board first on an error from the Birds, but then quickly tied it up 1-1 on a kill from Caitlyn Little. The Birds and Bears would continue to battle back-and-for in a one-point match for the majority of the game, until the Birds jumped out to a five-point lead on a service ace from Aida Shadewald. The Bears came back to tie up the set at 18 apiece and went on to take the first set 25-20.
Set 2
Set two began with the Bears leading until the Birds worked their way back to tie it up at 12. It was back-to-back service aces from Sammi Bunch which gave the Birds the tie, and then the lead, at 13-12. The Bears then evened the score and held a two-point lead until a kill from Little tied up the score at 19-19. It was a battle for the lead beyond regulation, where the Birds came away with the 27-25 victory with a kill from Khenedi Guest that sealed the deal.
Set 3
After some more tightly contested action in set three, the Birds pulled ahead on back-to-back kills from Abby Reck and two more kills from Little. The Birds led for the rest of the set after Reck delivered the lead, and the Birds would go on to win the set 25-21.
Set 4
Set four saw a one-point match until the Birds pulled away to a five-point lead after kills from Guest and Hannah Reichensperger. The Birds maintained the lead for the rest of the match and left no doubt as they went on to win the match 25-20. A kill from Reichensperger on match-point secured the Birds the victory and a trip to the semi-final tomorrow.
ILLINOIS STATE STATS LEADERS
Kills: Aida Shadewald (16)
Digs: Sammi Bunch (18)
Assists: Mekaila Aupiu (57)
Service Aces: Aida Shadewald (5)
Total Blocks: Hannah Reichensperger (5)
ILLINOIS STATE NOTES
- Illinois State (.326) outhit Missouri State (.265)
- Junior Aida Shadewald led the team in kills and recorded a double-double with 16 kils and 12 digs.
- Senior Mekaila Aupiu recorded a new career-high with 57 assists in the match.
- Illinois State will play in its first semi-final since 2021 and the first time the Birds have advanced to the semi-finals as a seed lower than the top-three since 2016.
UP NEXT
Illinois State will play in the upcoming semifinal tomorrow at 3 p.m. against the one-seed and host, Northern Iowa.
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