MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Illinois State volleyball (3-7) fell to Iowa (5-3) in four sets (19-25, 8-25, 25-22, 14-25) on Saturday afternoon to close out their weekend at the Panther Invitational.
The Redbirds are now 2-4 in four-set matches on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois State falls to Iowa in four sets: 19-25, 8-25, 25-22, 14-25
Set 1
Illinois State was first on the board as there were four ties across the first eight points before Iowa built out a four-point lead (15-11) heading into the media timeout. The Hawkeyes kept their lead out of the timeout, pushing the lead to as many as seven before a 3-0 Redbird run forced an Iowa timeout at 23-19. Iowa would wrap up the set with two straight points to take a 25-19 win in the opening frame.
Set 2
After another back-and-forth start to the set, Iowa would build a six-point lead and force an early Illinois State timeout at 9-3. The Hawkeyes never let go of the lead, hitting .500 and taking set two by a final of 25-8.
Set 3
After trailing early, Illinois State would go on a 4-0 scoring run to take an 8-5 lead as Iowa called their first timeout of the set. Another 4-0 run by the Redbirds extended their lead to 18-13 as Iowa would call their final timeout of the set. Iowa would respond with a 5-2 run of their own to force a Redbirds timeout with the scoreboard reading 20-18. Illinois State remained unfazed in the closing moments, despite Iowa trimming the lead to only one, as the Birds closed out set three to win 25-22.
Set 4
The two sides continued to remain close on the scoreboard before Iowa pulled ahead by six, including holding a 15-9 lead at the media timeout. The Hawkeyes would expand the lead to as many as nine prior to Illinois State responding to make it a six-point game at 19-13. Iowa would go on a 6-1 run to close the set, securing a 25-14 set four win and overall match victory.
ILLINOIS STATE STATS LEADERS (vs Iowa)
Kills: Aida Shadewald (9)
Digs: Aida Shadewald (10)
Assists: Mekaila Aupiu (26)
Service Aces: Aida Shadewald (3)
Total Blocks: Logan Grevengoed and Khenedi Guest (2)
ILLINOIS STATE NOTES (vs Iowa)
- Illinois State (.058) was outhit by Iowa (.288)
- Junior Aida Shadewald sits with 88 career service aces, one away from moving into a tie for 25th in program history (89).
- Freshman Khenedi Guest moves her team-leading block total to 26
UP NEXT
Illinois State heads south to Florida as the Redbirds will compete in the Owls Paradise Classic, hosted by FAU, on September 20 and 21.
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