Adelaide Street Field | Illinois State University Athletics
Adelaide Street Field | Illinois State University Athletics
Illinois State University's volleyball team faced a setback on Saturday night, losing to Missouri State in four sets at CEFCU Arena. The match concluded with scores of 19-25, 20-25, 25-23, and 22-25.
In the first set, Illinois State initially took the lead but was overtaken by Missouri State after a decisive 4-0 run. The Bears maintained their advantage and closed the set at 25-19. The second set saw Missouri State's offense surge with an 8-0 run, establishing a strong lead that Illinois State could not overcome. Despite efforts to close the gap, the Redbirds fell short, ending the set at 25-20.
The third set was more favorable for Illinois State as they started with a 3-0 run and managed to secure a win at 25-23 after several ties throughout the game. However, in the fourth set, Missouri State quickly gained an early lead of 8-1. Although Illinois State rallied to even the score multiple times, Missouri State ultimately clinched the match with a final score of 25-22.
Key players for Illinois State included Abby Reck with 15 kills and Sammi Bunch who led in digs with 17. Mekaila Aupiu contributed significantly with 51 assists and four total blocks. Freshman Oliwia Caputa achieved a double-double with 12 kills and 15 assists.
Missouri State outhit Illinois State with percentages of .277 compared to .212. Three Redbirds recorded double-digit kills during the match: Reck, Khenedi Guest, and Caputa.
Looking ahead, Illinois State will aim to recover in upcoming matches against Belmont and Murray State next weekend.
For updates on Illinois State volleyball, visit GoRedbirds.com or follow them on social media platforms including X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Alerts Sign-up