NORMAL, Ill. – Behind a career-high-tying 13 kills from sophomore Ruth Ziegler – on just 16 total swings – the Illinois State volleyball team swept past the Murray State Racers on Friday night by scores of 25-16, 25-16, and 25-17. Ziegler's attack percentage of .750 is the 18th-best in the NCAA this season among players with 15-19 attack attempts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set (25-16): The first set opened back and forth with three tie scores and one lead change, which happened after Murray State led 5-3 before ISU ran off four consecutive points, two on combo blocks from Ziegler and Khenedi Guest, and another on a Ziegler kill. The Redbird lead would be cut to one at 7-6, before the Birds scored three in a row, and cruised to the nine-point opening-set win.
Second Set (25-16): The second set had four lead changes and four tie scores – the highest for both in the match. The final lead change coming after the Racers led 4-3, and ISU scored six consecutive points – two on service aces from Ella Craggs – as ISU cruised to a second consecutive 25-16 set victory.
Third Set (25-17): ISU scored the first two points of the third set, and despite the frame being tied at 2, 3, and 5, the Redbirds would never trail, pulling away late for the weekend sweep.
KEY STATISTICS
- Ziegler had 13 kills on 16 attempts, while adding three blocks in the ISU win
- Libero Arianna Rossi had a match-high 19 digs in the match, bringing her career total to 993, just seven away from a career total of 1,000 as a Division I volleyball player
- Craggs served up a career-high four aces on the night, while also dishing out 21 assists – top marks on the squad
- Audrey Clark tied her career-high with 10 digs, adding 15 service aces for her second collegiate double-double
- Guest had seven kills and three blocks, hitting a strong .462 on the match
- Aida Shadewald was second on the team with nine kills, while adding eight digs
- The Redbirds had back-to-back matches hitting over .300, the first time ISU has done that since November of 2024 in wins at Belmont and Murray State
- The team's sideout percentage in the first set – 82 percent – was a season-high for ISU
NEXT UP
The Redbirds begin the back half of their four-game homestand on Friday, November 7, as the squad hosts the Evansville Aces in a 6 p.m. first serve inside CEFCU Arena.
