DAYTON, Ohio – Playing their second opponent who was receiving votes in the AVCA Top-25 poll over their last four matches, the Illinois State volleyball squad battled throughout in a loss to UC Santa Barbara 26-24, 25-20, 28-26.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set (24-26): ISU started the match on a tear, scoring the first five points of the set, and kept the lead through the latter stages of the set, before the strong Gauchos' squad ran off seven of eight points during a stretch to take the lead; however, ISU would not go quietly, forcing extra points in the eventual 26-24 set loss.
Second Set (20-25): The second set saw nine tie scores and five lead changes, including a tie score as last as 15-15. UCSB used a strong rotation during the midpoint of the set to score eight consecutive points to turn a four-point deficit into a four-point advantage, and the Redbirds were unable to overcome the deficit in the frame.
Third Set (26-28): In the tightest-contest and longest set in the match, the teams found themselves tied 16 times in all, despite UCSB leading 17-12 just past the typical midway point of the set. Behind the serving of Audrey Clark, ISU scored seven straight points, capped by an Oliwia Caputa kill to put ISU ahead 19-17. The teams battled back and forth, and were tied at 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, and 26 before the Gauchos scored the final two points to secure the sweep.
KEY STATISTICS
- ISU's scores in the first and third sets are the eighth and ninth times this season that the winning team's score was above 25
- Caitlyn Little led the Redbirds in kills for the fourth time this season and for the third consecutive match
- Five different Redbirds (Little, Caputa, Ruth Ziegler, Khenedi Guest, and Logan Grevengoed) had at least six kills in the balanced offensive attack
- Audrey Clark led the Redbirds in assists with 21, while Ella Craggs had 10
- Four different Redbirds had a service ace: Little, Caputa, Arianna Rossi, and Clark
- For just the third time this season, no Redbird had double-digit digs; however, three players – Rossi, Little, and Caputa – all were one away from reaching double-digits
- The Redbirds had eight blocks on the day, led by five from Guest, and three from Grevengoed
- UCSB now leads the all-time series between the schools 3-1
NEXT UP
The Redbirds return later today for ISU's second game of the day at the Dayton Flyer Invitational, as the Birds will face off against the Wright State Raiders at 4 p.m. (CT).
