DAYTON, Ohio – Playing tournament host Dayton – a team that ranked as high as 24th in the AVCA Coaches Poll earlier this season – the Illinois State volleyball team closed play at the Dayton Flyer Invitational – and the 2025 non-conference season – falling in three sets to the Flyers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set (15-25): ISU started fast, scoring three of the first four points; however, the host Flyers fought back, and used a stretch where the team scored six of seven points, taking a lead that the Flyers would not give up in the opening-set.
Second Set (19-25): A 4-0 run early in the set turned a t-3 deficit into a 7-6 lead, and the two teams remained tied through 13-13. Dayton pushed back ahead late, scoring the final four points of the set, the only time in the frame that the margin reached a margin of more than three points.
Third Set (14-25): The Redbirds came out firing to start the third set and led by as many as three points early. Dayton – leading by just three at 15-12, closed strong, scoring 10 of the final 12 points to secure the win.
KEY STATISTICS
- Caitlyn Little was named to the Dayton Flyer Invitational All-Tournament Team
- Little had nine kills for the Redbirds – five in the first set
- Oliwia Caputa tied for the team lead with nine kills
- Both Ella Craggs and Audrey Clark tied for the team lead with 13 assists, while Arianna Rossi had the team's only service ace
- Little's eight digs were a team-high, with Clark second on the team with seven
- The match ends the ISU non-conference season with a 5-7 overall record
NEXT UP
The Redbirds open MVC play on Friday, September 26 when ISU travels to Terre Haute, Indiana, to take on the Sycamores of Indiana State, which will be followed by a Saturday, September 27 trip to Peoria to face the Bradley Braves.
