PEORIA, Ill. –Trailing two sets to none, the Illinois State volleyball team battled back, forcing a fourth set, and overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth set to force extra points; however, the early hole was too big to overcome in a 3-1 loss to the Bradley Braves, 13-25, 20-25, 25-15, 24-26.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set (13-25): The teams traded pairs of 2-0 runs to start, with the teams knotted at four, and after a 5-5 tie, Bradley ran off three in a row to lead 8-5. After climbing back within one at 8-7, the hosts scored five in a row to stretch the advantage to six at 13-7. The host Braves would not slow down, pulling away to the 25-13 opening-set win.
Second Set (20-25): With the match tied 3-3, Bradley ran off three in a row, which was countered by a 3-0 run of ISU's own, to re-tie the set at six. In a match of runs, the hosts ran off four in a row to extend their lead to 10-6. ISU would get back within three at 12-9 and again at 16-13. Despite cutting the deficit to the trio of points, the Redbirds could not get any closer in the second-set Bradley victory.
Third Set (25-15): Illinois State came out of the extended set break by leading 10-6 towards the middle of the third frame. The Redbirds extended their lead to six at 14-8, forcing a Bradley timeout, and further extended the margin to nine at 19-10. The Birds kept the pressure on, running away with the third set 25-15.
Fourth Set (24-26): Illinois State came out of the gates strong in the fourth set, leading 3-1 before the Braves fought back, running off five consecutive points to push ahead 6-3, extending the lead to as many as eight at 12-4. Trialing by 10 at 18-8, the Redbirds started to build momentum, using a 4-0 run to close the gap to 18-12. The Redbirds kept trimming the Bradley lead, closing to within three at 23-20 before running off four consecutive points when trailing 24-20 to tie the set at 24 points apiece; however, the hosts rallied to score the final two points of the set in the Bradley win.
KEY STATISTICS
- Illinois State opened with the lineup of 1 Ruth Ziegler, 2 Emilija Arsic, 9 Ella Craggs, 15 Addisyn Pohl, 16 Abby Reck, 17 Peyton Turner, and libero 5 Sammi Bunch
- This is the first time that these six have started in the same match this season
- Illinois State goes to 17-7 this season, 8-5 in the MVC, and 74-12 all-time against the Braves
- The match is the second this season of the War on 74 Rivalry Series, sponsored by Country Financial
- Ella Craggs gave out 27 assists, while adding 10 digs for her seventh double-double of the season
- For the 17th consecutive match, Sammi Bunch reached double-figure digs, as she had 13 against Bradley
- For the third consecutive match and fifth time in her last six contests, Emilija Arsic reached double-figure kills, as she had 14 for ISU
- Ruth Ziegler knocked down 15 kills, her third consecutive, and 10th total, double-digit kill match of the season
- She has recorded 33 kills over her last two matches, and 44 over her last three
- For the second time in her last three matches, Peyton Turner reached double-digit digs, as she had 14 for the Birds
- Ella Kohnen gave out 24 assists, her ninth consecutive match with double-digit helpers, while picking up nine digs
- With 12 kills, Jillian Gregory reached double-digit kills for the third consecutive match, and the sixth time this season
- Abby Reck served up a career-high four aces for ISU, as she added five kills
NEXT UP
The Redbirds return to Normal for a Friday afternoon battle with the UIC Flames, the final regular season home game for ISU, as the team will honor the seven players playing in their final home game: Madison Smith, Sammi Bunch, Logan Grevengoed, Oliwia Caputa, Abby Reck, Peyton Turner, and Audrey Clark.
