Dawson, Pence named MVC Players of the Week

Posted on September 26, 2016

By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL – Illinois State volleyball players Aly Dawson and Courtney Pence have been named the Missouri Valley Conference’s offensive and defensive players of the week, the league announced Monday.

Dawson and Pence helped the Redbirds win both of their matches over the weekend, as Illinois State earned a 3-1 win over Loyola on Friday and a 3-0 victory over Bradley on Saturday, in matches played at Redbird Arena.

Dawson, a senior from Hartford, Wisconsin, tallied 34 kills (4.86 per set) to help guide the Redbirds in the successful weekend run. Dawson led her team in kills in both matches, with 15 against Loyola and 19 versus Bradley, marking the seventh- and eighth-consecutive matches she has posted double-digit kills. Dawson also helped from the back row with 18 digs (2.57 per set), while also chipping in three blocks, three service aces and two assists.

Pence, a sophomore from Springfield, Illinois, turned in a record-breaking performance for the second weekend in a row. Pence tallied 60 digs (8.57 per set) over the weekend stretch, but her performance in Saturday’s win over Bradley stood out. Pence collected 39 digs in the Redbirds’ sweep of the Braves, which set Illinois State and Redbird Arena records for three-set matches, and ranks as the most digs in a three-set match by a Division I player this season. Pence tallied 19 digs alone in the third set of Friday’s win.

Pence registered a school record with 44 digs the previous weekend, in a five-set win at Northern Iowa, on Sept. 16.

Illinois State (10-5, 3-0 MVC) ran its current winning streak to seven with the wins over the weekend. The Redbirds will look to extend the streak when they host Indiana State (6-7, 1-1) Friday at 7 p.m.

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