By ISU
NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team’s three-match winning streak was halted in a five-set loss to visiting Southern Illinois Friday night at Redbird Arena.
Southern Illinois won by scores of 14-25, 26-24, 25-15, 12-25, 15-8.
Southern Illinois posted a hitting percentage of just .101 for the match, but the Salukis posted a .476 mark in the decisive fifth set as Andrea Estrada collected four of her match-high 16 kills.
Lexi Varga led Illinois State with team-high totals of 11 kills and a season-high 20 digs. Aly Dawson and Ella Francis added nine kills apiece, while Jaelyn Keene and Ali Line chipped in eight each.
Setters Jordan Weatherless and Jacqueline Twing combined for 39 assists and Courtney Pence registered 18 digs.
Illinois State middles Keene and Line provided key play at the net as Illinois State totaled 11 blocks, including eight solo efforts, the most by the Redbirds since a Sept. 25, 1999 match at Drake
Illinois State (15-10, 9-5 MVC) scored the first three points of the match and never trailed in the first set. Dawson tallied five kills and Keene posted back-to-back aces late in the set as the Redbirds took an early lead in the match.
Southern Illinois (19-9, 10-4) evened the match in the second set. An 8-2 run helped the Salukis build a five-point lead the Redbirds could not overcome, although Illinois State came back to tie it at 23-all. The Redbirds fought off Southern Illinois’ first set point with a kill from Francis, but couldn’t repeat the feat moments later as the match went into the break tied at one set apiece.
A back-and-forth third set turned when Southern Illinois ran off six-straight points to turn a 14-13 lead into a 20-13 advantage. A kill from Line ended the run, but the Salukis followed with four more points to get to set point, and took a 2-1 lead in the match moments later with a kill from Ginger Perinar.
Illinois State ran out to a big lead in the fourth set, scoring the first five points and forcing a Saluki timeout. The Redbirds never trailed in the set as Varga collected five kills and eight digs to boost her team-high totals.
Southern Illinois bounced back quickly in the fifth set, however, scoring the first four points. Estrada and Abby Barrow had four kills each in the final set, and Barrow finished out the match with an ace on match point.
The Redbirds return to action Saturday night with a 7 p.m. match versus Evansville at Redbird Arena. Saturday is Illinois State’s “Pack the Arena” match, featuring free admission to all fans. Links for live video, audio and stats are available at GoRedbirds.com, and fans can follow @RedbirdVB on Twitter for live updates and more.
