CHICAGO – The Illinois State volleyball team put a close on the 2025 regular season, as the team gears up towards the MVC Championship after tonight's four-set loss to the UIC Flames. These same two schools will meet again on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the opening round of the MVC Tournament, back in Chicago inside CreditUnion1 Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set (17-25): UIC jumped ahead early, leading 5-1 through the first six points of the set, before the Redbirds started their comeback, getting as close as two at 17-15; however, UIC responded with a 4-1 run to stretch the margin to five at 21-16, with the Flames cruising to the opening-set win.
Second Set (25-22): After falling behind 2-0 early, the Redbirds ran off a 7-2 run, and in the process taking their first lead of the match. ISU's lead grew to as many as five points at 18-13 and 19-14, before the hosts started trimming away at the margin, knotting the score at 21 apiece; however, the Redbirds closed strong with four of the final six points going to ISU in the three-point second-set win.
Third Set (20-25): The teams battled in the third set, with the largest lead by either team being two, as each squad pushed ahead to a two-point lead during the set until the Flames jumped ahead 19-16 in the back half of the frame. UIC used the late momentum to stretch out to a 25-20 third-set win.
Fourth Set (23-25): The Redbirds came roaring out of the fourth set, scoring four of the first five points, and led 8-2 to force a UIC timeout. The Flames fought back and took a one-point, 10-9. After ISU rallied back to a three-point lead at 14-11, the Flames ran off six consecutive points to stretch out to an 18-15 lead. In the roller-coaster fourth set, the Redbirds scored five of six points to tie the score at 21; however, UIC re-took the late momentum to secure the four-set victory.
KEY STATISTICS
- With her fifth kill in the match, which occurred in the second set, Aida Shadewald moved past Redbird volleyball legend Kim Nelson-Brown (1,250) into 13th place in school history in career kills. Shadewald, now with 1,259 career kills, trails 12th place Andi Hardwick (who closed her ISU career with 1,308) by 49
- She recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 13 digs
- The double-digit kills are the 10th time this season she has recorded double-figures in the category
- Arianna Rossi reached double-figure digs for the 22nd time this season, and for the eighth consecutive contest
- Her total of 27 gave her the 18th match this season with 15+ digs, including in each of the last eight matches, and her eighth of 20+ digs, including in each of her two matches this week
- Oliwia Caputa had 10 kills for the Birds while adding seven digs and a season-high-tying two service aces
- Her double-digit kills are the fourth time this season she has record 10+ kills, including in each of the team's matches this weekend
- Audrey Clark's 20 assists led the team, while Ella Craggs had 16 for the Birds
- Clark had five digs in the match with a service ace while Crags had four digs for the Birds
- Hannah Reichensperger had nine kills and four blocks for the Redbirds
- Khenedi Guest had a team-high five blocks in addition to seven kills and a dig
NEXT UP
The Redbirds will open play in the first round of the MVC Tournament on Wednesday evening and will travel back to Chicago to face off against the UIC Flames in a 2 p.m. first service inside CreditUnion1 Arena.
