NORMAL, Ill. – Behind 15 kills from Caitlyn Little and 11 kills and eight blocks from Khenedi Guest, the Illinois State volleyball squad put out the Flames of UIC in four sets on Thursday evening 3-1 (25-23, 25-15, 18-25, 25-19).
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set (25-23): The opening set had two lead changes, and three ties – the latest at 6-6 as ISU turned a 6-5 deficit into a 9-6 lead as Redbirds scored four straight points to lead 9-6. ISU would not trail again, despite leading by as many as seven points at 18-11, and the hosts withstood a furious late comeback that saw UIC twice climb back within one point, before a kill by Little put a cap on the opening frame.
Second Set (25-15): ISU scored the first five points of the second set, and never trailed during the period, as the Redbirds ran away with a 25-15 set victory – tied for ISU's largest set win of the season.
Third Set (18-25): UIC thwarted a sweep attempt by winning the third frame and had four ties and three lead changes in the process. The Redbirds led as late as 9-8 in the set following a combo block from Guest and setter Ella Craggs, before the visitors ran off four consecutive points and never trailed again in the third-set Flame win.
Fourth Set (25-19): Trailing 16-14 – ISU's largest deficit of the set – the Redbirds closed the set strong, scoring nine of the final 14 points, closing with a combo block from Guest and Aida Shadewald to secure the Thursday night win.
KEY STATISTICS
- For the second time this season the Redbirds had two players record double-doubles, as Little had 15 kills and 10 digs, while Shadewald had 10 kills and 10 digs – for Little it was her fourth double-double of the season and for Shadewald her second
- ISU's win was the first this season (now 1-5) when having equal or fewer blocks than their opponent
- Caitlyn Little tied her season-high with 15 kills – her second consecutive match with that total – while also adding 10 digs for her team-leading fourth double-double of the year
- Ella Craggs set career-highs during the match in assists (42) and blocks (three), while also adding six digs
- With eight blocks, Guest had her sixth match this season with 6+ blocks, while her 11 kills are her second-highest match total of the season
- After missing nearly a month due to injury, Shadewald had her first double-figure kill match since August 31 with 10 in ISU's win, her third double-digit kill match of the season
- Her 10 digs are her third-highest total of the season, and her second double-double of the year
- Arianna Rossi had 17 digs in the win, her 11th match this season (of 15) with double-digit digs, and is her second-highest season dig total in four-set matches
- Ruth Ziegler's four digs are a season-high, and tie her career-best
- Hannah Reichensperger's three aces are a career-high, and she has recorded five aces over the most recent two matches, while her five blocks are tied for her second-highest total of the season
NEXT UP
The Redbirds stay at home for a Friday evening (6 p.m.) first serve against the Valparaiso Beacons inside CEFCU Arena.
