NORMAL, Ill. – In the final match of the 2025 Linda Herman Classic, the Illinois State Redbirds fell to the Big Ten's Illinois Fighting Illini in three sets on Sunday afternoon behind scores of 25-17, 25-18, and 26-24.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set (17-25): The Fighting Illini and Redbirds fought to a 2-2 tie score early; however, the Illini scored seven of the next eight points to push out to a 9-3 lead. Trailing by 11 at 21-10, ISU fought back and scored seven of the last 11 points, but the early deficit was too much to overcome in the opening frame.
Second Set (18-25): The teams battled through a back-and-forth battle through the early portions of the second set, with the set being tied as late as 10-10. After being knotted at 10 apiece, Illinois scored the next three points, and never trailed again in the frame.
Third Set (24-26): Despite Illinois scoring the first four points of the set, the Redbirds would not give up the fight, gradually chipping away at the deficit – which reached its high-mark of five points – eventually tying the match score at 22. The teams remained tied at 23, and 24, before the Illini scored the final two points of the match to win the Classic finale for both squads.
KEY STATISTICS
- The announced attendance of 2,874 was ISU's largest crowd since September 30, 2022, against Valparaiso, and the sixth-highest attendance over the last 20 seasons (since 2006)
- The 26-24 third set score was ISU's seventh set this season needing more than 25 points to secure a winner (ISU is 4-3 in those seven sets)
- Caitlyn Little's 13 blocks were a match-high, and her third match this season with double-digit kills
- Audrey Clark (14) and Ella Craggs (13) led the Redbirds in assists
- Craggs' three service aces are a career-high for the freshman, and tied for the most in a match by ISU this season (tied with Aida Shadewald and Arianna Rossi)
- Rossi continued her strong start to her Redbird career with a match-high 13 digs, as she has reached double-digit digs in seven of nine matches, while securing nine or more digs in every match this season
NEXT UP
ISU heads east to compete in the Dayton Flyer Invitational, where the Redbirds will face off against UC Santa Barbara at 10 a.m. (CT) on Friday, September 19, while coming back later that night at 4 p.m. (CT) against Wright State. The tournament – and the non-conference season – closes the next day on September 20 with a noon (CT) first serve against the Dayton Flyers.
