Redbird volleyball picked 3rd in MVC poll

Posted on August 17, 2017

ISU’s Jaelyn Keene joined teammate Courtney Pence in being named to the MVC’s all-conference preseason team. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL – The Illinois State volleyball team was picked for a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference in a preseason poll of league coaches, while a pair of Redbirds earned preseason all-conference honors, the MVC announced Wednesday.

Illinois State placed both Jaelyn Keene and Courtney Pence on the league’s preseason all-conference team, and the Redbirds were one of only two Valley teams to land multiple players on the seven-player team. Keene’s preseason nod is her third in as many years.

Illinois State was slotted in behind league favorite Missouri State, which garnered 99 voter points and all but one first-place vote, and Northern Iowa, which totaled 89 voter points and received the only other first-place ranking.

The Redbirds were slotted in for a third-place finish, with 76 voter points, finishing ahead of Loyola Chicago (67 voter points), Southern Illinois (64) and Drake (48). The poll was rounded out by league newcomer Valparaiso (33), Bradley (32), Indiana State (26) and Evansville (16).

Joining Keene and Pence on the league’s preseason all-conference squad were: Andrea Estrada (Southern Illinois), Lily Johnson (Missouri State), Gabi Maciagowski (Loyola Chicago), Danielle Messa (Missouri State) and Bri Weber (Northern Iowa).

Illinois State returns to the court in 2017 after going 17-15 in all matches and 9-9 in league play a year ago. The Redbirds advanced to the semifinals of the MVC Tournament, falling to regular-season champion Missouri State in a five-set semifinal thriller.

The Redbirds will take the court for the first time in the team’s annual Red and White Scrimmage on Saturday at 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Illinois State will face outside competition for the first time when it heads to the Hampton Inn & Suites Waco North Baylor Invitational, hosted by Baylor, in Waco, Texas, Aug. 25-26.

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