Redbirds picked fifth, Rosch and Keene preseason All-MVC

Posted on August 19, 2015

Jaelyn Keene has been named preseason All-MVC. (Photo courtesy goredbirds.com)

By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL – The Illinois State volleyball team has been picked to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference in a preseason poll of conference coaches, while returning Redbirds Ashley Rosch and Jaelyn Keene were named to the league’s preseason all-conference team, the MVC announced Wednesday.

Wichita State topped the poll with seven of the 10 first-place votes. Missouri State, Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois came in at second, third and fourth, respectively, with each team receiving one first-place vote.

The Redbirds were pegged for a fifth-place finish, while Indiana State, Loyola, Drake, Evansville and Bradley rounded out the poll.

Illinois State was the only school to place multiple players on the preseason all-conference team. Joining Rosch and Keene were Northern Iowa’s Kayla Haneline, Missouri State’s Lily Johnson, Wichita State’s Abbie Lehman and Southern Illinois’ Taylor Pippen.

Rosch, a senior outside hitter and three-time All-MVC First-Team selection, led the Redbirds with 425 kills in 2014, marking the third-consecutive season she has led the Redbirds in kills. Rosch earned all-region status from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), and was named the MVC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player a year ago.

Keene, a sophomore middle hitter and All-MVC First-Team pick last year, tallied 364 kills, 127 blocks and a team-best .353 hitting percentage as a freshman. She was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team and All-Tournament Team, before earning AVCA All-Region and All-America honorable mention accolades.

The Redbirds begin the regular season Aug. 28 at the Hurricane Invitational, hosted by Miami, in Coral Gables, Florida. They will also play at the Harvard Invitational, Sept. 4-5 in Boston, before playing their first home matches of the season, Sept. 11-12 at Redbird Arena, as part of the Country Financial Redbird Classic.

Illinois State will host its annual Red and White Scrimmage Saturday at 1 p.m., at Redbird Arena. Admission to the scrimmage is free, and season-ticket packages will be available for $35.

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