ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Returning eight student-athletes that started at least nine matches last season, while bringing in the top-rated recruiting class in program history, has the Illinois State volleyball team picked to finish third in the preseason Missouri Valley Coaches Poll. Two Redbirds – Aida Shadewald and Khenedi Guest – were named to the preseason All-MVC squad.
The Redbirds earned 95 poll points, tied with Drake for third overall, and trailing only Northern Iowa (120 points) and UIC (107).
Last season Shadewald was named to the All-MVC First Team after leading ISU with 385 kills, while hitting at a .251 percentage. She also led the team with 46 service aces and had 275 digs.
Guest, the 2024 MVC Freshman of the Year, had a .297 attack percentage with 273 kills and a team-leading 99 blocks (0.84 per set).
The Redbirds officially open their 2025 season on Friday afternoon when the team travels to Kalamazoo, Michigan, to compete in the Western Michigan Tournament, starting with a 2 p.m. battle with the DePaul Blue Demons on Friday afternoon.
