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By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL – Danielle Rygelski and the Saint Louis volleyball team spoiled Illinois State’s home opener at Redbird Arena Wednesday, as the Rygelski-led Billikens scored a straight-sets win over the Redbirds. Saint Louis won by scores of 25-18, 25-22, 25-23.
Rygelski paced the Billikens with a match-high 26 kills, including 14 in the first set. Rygelski tallied her kills on 45 attempts and finished the match with a .444 hitting percentage. All three sets Wednesday ended with a kill from Rygelski.
Illinois State was led by Aly Dawson’s team-high 15 kills. Lexi Wallen added a career-high 11 kills. Jacqueline Twing dished out a team-high 20 assists and Courtney Pence tallied 15 digs to lead the Redbird back row.
Saint Louis (1-3) started strong by winning a close opening set. A 6-1 run midway through the set helped the Billikens turn a one-point lead into a six-point advantage, and key kills from Rygelski down the stretch sealed the first set for the visitors.
Illinois State (1-3) ran out to an early lead in the second set only to see the Billikens come storming back. With Illinois State leading 17-10, Saint Louis ran off eight of the next nine points to tie it up at 18-18. SLU then outscored the Redbirds 7-4 down the stretch, capping the second-set win with yet another kill from Rygelski.
Saint Louis appeared to be cruising to a sweep in the third set when it jumped out to leads of 10-3, and later 17-7, forcing Illinois State timeouts after each run. But the Redbirds battled back, trimming the Billiken lead to as little as just one point at 21-10. Saint Louis finished strong, however, and sealed the sweep with Rygelski’s 26th kill of the match.
Illinois State returns to action Friday when it begins play at the Tiger Invitational in Columbia, Missouri. The Redbirds will face Miami (Ohio) Friday, and Rice and Utah on Saturday at Mizzou’s Hearnes Center.