McLean County Times

The Illinois State volleyball team is set to conclude its 2024 road schedule with matches against Belmont and Murray State this weekend. The Redbirds, who currently hold a record of 13-15 overall and 8-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), will face Belmont on Friday at 6 p.m. and Murray State on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Senior setter Mekaila Aupiu continues to lead Division I in assists this season, accumulating a total of 1,151. Aupiu is distinguished as the only player in the MVC, and one of just 16 nationwide, to surpass the milestone of 1,000 assists this season. She is also noted as the first Redbird since Stef Jankiewicz in 2019 to achieve over 1,000 assists in a single season.

Illinois State has excelled within conference play by delivering a league-leading total of 762 assists. As of November 13, they also lead the MVC in both team kills (1,484) and team assists (1,379), ranking third and fourth nationally in these categories respectively.

Junior Aida Shadewald reached her own milestone by surpassing the mark of 1,000 career kills during a match against Drake on October 19. She became the 23rd player from Illinois State to achieve this feat.

Mekaila Aupiu further cemented her place in Illinois State history by becoming the program's 19th player to exceed 1,000 career assists during a five-set match against Evansville on November 1. Her current tally stands at an impressive figure for her senior year.

As Illinois State aims for success at the upcoming MVC Championships scheduled from November 23-26 at UNI's campus, fans can stay updated through GoRedbirds.com and various social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

For additional information regarding tickets or other inquiries related to Illinois State athletics such as merchandise or multimedia content, GoRedbirds.com serves as a comprehensive resource along with the Illinois State Redbirds App.