CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Illinois State volleyball squad took top-seeded Northern Iowa to a fifth set in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinal, and despite strong performance, the Redbirds fell in a five-set battle 25-23, 18-25, 23-25, 25-23, 5-15.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set (25-23): After trading points to start the match, the host Panthers started to build their lead, scoring three points in a row, taking a lead that UNI would not give up until late in the set. UNI's lead grew to as large as eight at 17-9; however, the Redbirds battled back, scoring 16 of the final 22 points. The Redbirds started their climb back and used a 5-0 run to tie the set at 19-19. The teams were tied at 21, 22, and 23 before the Redbirds scored the final two points of the set to claim the opening frame 25-23.
Second Set (18-25): The Panthers started strong in the second set, leading 13-5 early; however, the Redbirds started their comeback, and closed to within three at 17-14. Northern Iowa regrouped and closed the set on an 8-4 run to tie the match at one set victory apiece with the 25-18 second-set win.
Third Set (23-25): ISU took the momentum early in the third set, as the Redbirds jumped out to a 6-2 lead early in the frame, before the top-seeded hosts closed back, including scoring five straight to re-take the lead at 9-7. ISU got to within a single point at 9-8, 10-9, and 11-10; however, the Panthers stretched the margin to seven at 21-14. The Redbirds would not go quietly in the set, closing the gap to a single point at 24-23 but could not overcome the full deficit in the two-point third-set loss.
Fourth Set (25-23): In the fourth set the teams were tied eight times through a 10-10 tie score, with the Redbirds using a 3-0 to turn a 10-9 deficit into a 12-10 lead, and ISU stretched the lead to 14-11. Following a timeout, the Panthers scored three consecutive point to tie the score at 14. Eight more ties followed (15-15, 16-16, 17-17, 19-19, 20-20, 21-21, 22-22, and 23-23) before the Redbirds scored two in a row to close the fourth set, sending the contest into a fifth set in the semifinal.
Fifth Set (5-15): The hosts came out in the extra frame by scoring the first four points, with the Redbirds answering immediately with three in a row. Northern Iowa rallied, scoring eight in a row to close the fifth set 15-5.
KEY STATISTICS
- The match was the semifinal of the 2025 MVC Tournament
- Arianna Rossi picked up a match-high 28 digs, her 10th consecutive match with double-digit digs, and the 24th time in 30 matches this season in double-figures
- Ruth Ziegler tied a career-high with 17 kills, her second consecutive match with double-digit kills, and her eighth of the season
- Oliwia Caputa set a season-high, recording double-digit kills for the third time in her last three matches, as she ended with 13 for the Redbirds
- Aida Shadewald recorded her eighth double-double of the season, and third straight, with 13 kills and 14 digs in the contest
- Ella Craggs had her eighth double-double of the season – and in her second consecutive match – with 28 assists and 14 digs
- Audrey Clark narrowly missed a double-double with 20 assists and nine digs
- Khenedi Guest and Hannah Reichensperger each had six kills and four blocks for the Redbirds, as each also added one dig
- Logan Grevengoed had seven kills for ISU, along with three digs and three blocks
