Pence digs, Dawson swings Redbird volleyball to win over Bradley

Posted on September 24, 2016

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL – Courtney Pence set an Illinois State digs record for the second weekend in a row as the Redbird volleyball team earned a sweep over Missouri Valley Conference foe Bradley Saturday night at Redbird Arena. Illinois State won by scores of 25-20, 25-17, 29-27.

With Pence patrolling the back row, Aly Dawson spearheaded the Redbird offense by tallying a match-high 19 kills, while Jaelyn Keene and Lexi Varga added 10 apiece. Jordan Weatherless dished out 45 assists.

Pence tallied 39 digs in the match, the fourth-highest total in program history, and the highest three-set total in Illinois State and Redbird Arena history. Her 39 digs are the most by a Division I player in a three-set match this season.

Pence previously set an Illinois State single-match record with 44 digs in a match at Northern Iowa Sept. 16.

Illinois State steadily built a lead early in the first set, but Bradley fought back to within one point at 20-19. The Redbirds finished with a 5-1 run, however, with two kills coming from Dawson.

A 6-0 run midway through the second set helped the Redbirds pull away again. Five-straight points from the Redbirds, the final two coming on kills from Ali Line, then gave Illinois State a 2-0 lead heading into the break.

The third set was the closest of the night, with 18 tied scores and six lead changes. The resilient Braves fought off five match points, but Illinois State converted on its sixth try, with an ace serve from Dawson capping the sweep.

Illinois State returns to action next Friday, with a 7 p.m. match versus Indiana State at Redbird Arena.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…