SAINT LOUIS, Mo. – The Illinois State volleyball team will continue its non-conference slate this weekend, as the Redbirds travel to Saint Louis, Missouri to compete in the Billiken Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
ISU opens the weekend on Friday versus Xavier and Army before taking on host Saint Louis on Saturday.
Live stats will be available for all three Redbird matches, with the Saturday afternoon contest versus Saint Louis streamed on ESPN+.
SCHEDULE
-Friday: 11:00 a.m. CT vs Xavier (0-3 in 2024) |Â Live Stats
-Friday: 4:00 p.m. CT vs Army (2-1 in 2024) | Live Stats
-Saturday: 2:30 p.m. CT vs Saint Louis (1-2 in 2024) |Â Live Stats | ESPN+
BILLIKEN INVITATIONAL TICKETS
Tickets are sold on a per-day basis and are $12. One ticket per person is good for all matches that day. Tickets can be purchased in advance here.
AUPIU, AUPIU, AUPIU
Illinois State senior setter Mekaila Aupiu has fit right in since joining the Redbirds prior to the 2024 season.
Aupiu leads the team and is tied fifth nationally with 156 assists, is tied for the team lead in block solos (3), and ranks 82nd in the NCAA for assists/set (9.18).
UNDER THE LIGHTS OF CEFCU
Illinois State saw nine athletes make their CEFCU Arena debut during the Linda Herman Volleyball Classic on August 30-31, including all six true freshman.
1-2 AT HOME
Illinois State opened the 2024 season at home for the first time since 2009, finishing 1-2 on the weekend versus Central Michigan, Bellarmine, and Lindenwood.
Since 2009, ISU is 141-65 at home, with 11 seasons of a .500 record or better.
START OF SOMETHING NEW
Illinois State is scheduled to face six programs (Bellarmine, Lindenwood, Army, Florida Atlantic, Stetson, and Mercer) for the first time in program history during the 2024 nonc-conference season.
The Redbirds will also travel to the Sunshine State (Florida) for the first time since 2015 when they take part in the Owls Paradise Classic at FAU on September 20-21.
PRESEASON ALL-MVC
Junior Aida Shadewald garnered preseason All-MVC honors after earning All-MVC First Team honors in 2023. Shadewald joins members from UNI, Drake, Evansville, and Murray State on the 2024 Preseason All-MVC team.
NEW-LOOK 'BIRDIES
Illinois State brings in 11 new faces to the 2024 roster, six of which are freshmen.
Freshmen opposite Ruth Ziegler (Gurnee, Ill.), middle blocker Khenedi Guest (Benton, Ark.), outside hitter Oliwia Caputa (Zywiec, Poland), outside hitter Lauren Salata (WestÂchester, Ill.), libero Olivia Baierl (Howards Grove, Wis.), and opposite Lilly Croshaw (Justin, Texas) join the Redbirds out of high school.
Transfers include sophomore outside hitter Abby Reck (NorthÂeastern), redshirt sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Logan Grevengoed (Western Kentucky), junior libero Colleen Hege (UIC), graduate middle blocker Maggie McCrary (Miami (OH)), and senior setter Mekaila Aupiu (UTSA).
For all latest on Illinois State volleyball, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App:  Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
