By ISU Sports Information
COLUMBIA- The Illinois State volleyball team rallied back from an 0-2 deficit to earn a 3-2 win over Miami (Ohio) in both teams’ first match at the Tiger Invitational at the Hearnes Center Friday. Illinois State won by scores of 25-27, 21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-12.
Jaelyn Keene led the Redbirds in the comeback with a very productive and efficient performance. Keene tallied a match-high 19 kills on a .514 hitting percentage, while adding six blocks and three digs.
Keene was one of four Redbirds reaching double figures in kills. Lexi Varga added 17, just one shy of her career high. Ali Line registered 13 kills, while Ella Francis collected 10 in the first start of her collegiate career.
Jacqueline Twing dished out 51 assists to go along with a career-high 21 digs. Courtney Pence led the Redbirds with 22 digs, while Elianna Lovejoy added a career-high 10.
Friday’s come-from-behind win marked Illinois State’s first victory after dropping the first two sets in a match since its NCAA Tournament opening-round win over Marquette, on Dec. 4, 2014.
“This was a great come from behind win and a great way to start a very competitive tournament,” said Illinois State head coach Melissa Myers. “It took a team effort and we will need that kind of effort with two more tough matches tomorrow.”
A very close opening set featured 17 ties and 11 lead changes, and neither team led by more than two points at any juncture. Both teams had a chance at a set point, but Miami capitalized on its second set point to take an early lead in the match.
Illinois State (2-3) started the second set with four of the first five points, but Miami (1-4) quickly answered with five-straight points. Illinois State eventually took a 13-9 lead, which marked the biggest lead of the match up to that point, but Miami answered again, this time with seven-straight points to take the lead. Illinois State fought back to tie it up at 17-17, but the resilient RedHawks fired off the next four points to pull away.
Miami grabbed an early lead in the third set only to see Illinois State come storming back. An 11-3 run for Illinois State midway through the set gave the Redbirds a two-point lead at 15-13. Miami fought back and later took a 21-20 lead, but Illinois State scored five of the next six points to stay alive in the match.
A close fourth set saw both teams trade leads early. Miami used a 10-5 run late to go ahead at 23-20, but Illinois State scored the next five points, thanks to kills from four different players, to force a fifth set.
Illinois State carried momentum into the fifth set, scoring the first four points and forcing a Miami timeout. The RedHawks fought back, though, and later took a 9-8 lead. The Redbirds came back with a 6-1 run to get to a set and match point and, after Miami fought off two set points, the Redbirds sealed the win with a block from Keene and Francis.
The Redbirds return to action at the Tiger Invitational Saturday, with two more matches at the Hearnes Center. Illinois State will take on Rice at 10 a.m., before finishing up the weekend against Utah at 4 p.m.
