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Illinois State University Athletics

Redbird Huddle vs SIU
Abigail Choi
3
Winner Southern Ill. SIU 10-14,4-8 MVC
2
Illinois St. ILS 17-6,8-4 MVC
Winner
Southern Ill. SIU
10-14,4-8 MVC
3
Final
2
Illinois St. ILS
17-6,8-4 MVC
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Southern Ill. SIU 25 17 15 27 15 (3)
Illinois St. ILS 18 25 25 25 10 (2)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Bill Salyer

Redbirds Fall in Five in Halloween-Night Thriller

NORMAL, Ill. –Illinois State had numerous individual career-highs; however, the Redbirds fell in a five-set Halloween Night thriller inside CEFCU Arena, falling 18-25, 25-17, 25-15, 25-27, 10-15 to the Southern Illinois Salukis.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Set (18-25): The teams opened back and forth early, and ISU held a 10-9 lead in the middle of the frame before the Salukis ran off six consecutive points to stretch to a 15-10 lead. Southern Illinois extended their advantage to as many as six at 17-11, before extending to seven at the conclusion of the 25-18 opening-set win.

Second Set (25-17): The Redbirds scored the first three points of the set before Southern Illinois battled back with five in a row to take a 5-3 lead early in the second frame.

Third Set (25-15): ISU opened the third set strong by scoring the first five points before the Salukis reached the scoreboard. The Redbirds extended their lead to as many as eight points at 14-6 during the middle of the set, and to as many as 11 during the frame at 20-9, with the Birds cruising to the 25-15 third-set win.

Fourth Set (25-27): The fourth set saw nine tie scores and three lead changes, as after the teams were tied at four, the Redbirds scored five of the next six points in the match to jump out to a 9-4 lead. The margin grew to as many as five at 11-6, before the visiting Salukis started chipping away at the deficit, eventually taking their first lead of the set at 17-16. The teams were tied at 22, 23, 24, and 25; however, a kill and a combo sent the match into the fifth and deciding set.

Fifth Set (10-15): ISU led 6-5 towards the middle of the fifth set before the visitors closed strong, outscoring the Redbirds 10-4 the rest of the way, as the Salukis picked up the MVC victory.

KEY STATISTICS

  • Illinois State opened with the lineup of 2 Emilija Arsic, 3 Ella Kohnen, 11 Jillian Gregory, 14 Jillian Ferrill, 16 Abby Reck, 18 Ayla Klingenberg and libero 5 Sammi Bunch
  • Illinois State goes to 17-6 this season, 8-4 in the MVC, and 85-16 all-time against the Salukis
  • ISU's 103 digs in the match are the most in the MVC this season, and tied for the ninth-most in the NCAA this season, regardless of match length
  • After having four players with double-digit kills in a match for the first time in over a year, the Redbirds accomplished the feat for the second time in as many matches, as Jillian Gregory, Ruth Ziegler, Emilija Arsic, and Jillian Ferrill - the same quartet that reached double figures last night - did it on Saturday night against the Salukis
  • For the first time since October 11, 2025, Illinois State had three student-athletes with double-doubles, as Emilija Arsic, Ella Kohnen, and Ella Craggs all had double-doubles in the five-set loss
  • With 100 digs, the Redbirds hit triple digits in the category for the first time since October 14, 2022
  • ISU had two players with 20+ digs in a match for the second time this season, as Sammi Bunchy had 26 and Ella Kohnen 20
  • The Redbirds had four players with double-digit digs in a match for the first time since October 11, 2025
  • Ruth Ziegler knocked down a career high 18 kills, while her 45 attempts are also a career high
    • The double-digit kill effort was her second straight, and the ninth time this season
  • Ella Kohnen had her first collegiate double-double with career highs of 26 assists, 20 digs, and five service aces
    • The double-digit dig effort was the first of her career, and the first 20-dig match of her career
    • Her previous career-high in assists was 23, and her previous career-high in aces was two
  • Jillian Gregory had a career-high 17 kills in the match on 46 attempts – also a career-high
  • Emilija Arsic put together her first career double-double with 13 kills and a career-high 19 digs
    • The 13 kills are her second-highest total in a match this season, as she had 30 over the two matches during the weekend
    • Her 57 attempts are a career high, and she is the first Redbird with 50 or more attempts in a match since October 3, 2025
    • She tied her career-high with two service aces
  • Sammi Bunch had her 16th match this season with double-digit digs, and her ninth with 20+ digs
    • Her 26 digs in the match are her second-highest total of the season for the two-time MVC Libero of the Week
  • Jillian Ferrill had 16 kills in the loss to the Salukis, her ninth match this season with double-digit kills, and her third-highest single-match total this season
    • Her 41 attempts are the first time in her career in which she has had 40 or more attempts in a match
  • Ella Craggs dished out 29 assists – her second-highest single-match total this season
    • With her 10 digs, she has six double-doubles this season
  • Madison Smith had a season-high eight digs for the Redbirds
  • Addisyn Pohl had a team-high four blocks, her second-highest total in a match as a Redbird

NEXT UP

ISU remains in the area for their next game, a Tuesday evening battle with the Bradley Braves in Peoria, as the match has a 6 p.m. first serve in Renaissance Coliseum.

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