McLean County Times

The Illinois State volleyball team secured a victory over Belmont in a four-set match on Friday, with the Redbirds achieving an impressive .387 hitting percentage. The match scores were 18-25, 28-26, 25-11, and 25-21.

In the first set, Belmont initially led with a score of 6-2 before Illinois State managed to take the lead at 7-6. However, Belmont regained control to win the set 25-18 after scoring five consecutive points when tied at 17.

The second set was tightly contested, with neither team leading by more than one point early on. Illinois State pulled ahead to a 15-11 lead following a kill by Caitlyn Little. Despite Belmont's efforts to tie the game at 25, Illinois State clinched the set with two consecutive points for a final score of 28-26.

Illinois State dominated the third set after breaking away from a tie at six points each. They extended their lead significantly to secure a decisive win at 25-11.

Set four remained close until Illinois State gained momentum from back-to-back kills by Aida Shadewald, leading them to finish strong with a final score of 25-21.

Key players for Illinois State included Aida Shadewald and Caitlyn Little, both contributing significantly with 17 kills each. Mekaila Aupiu provided substantial support with 47 assists.

Notably, sophomore Caitlyn Little achieved her fifth double-double of the year and recorded an impressive .536 hitting percentage. Junior Aida Shadewald also stood out with a .696 hitting percentage.

Following this victory, Illinois State will face Murray State Racers in Kentucky on Saturday night. For further updates on Illinois State volleyball, fans are encouraged to visit GoRedbirds.com and follow their social media channels.