McLean County Times

The Illinois State softball team is set to compete in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge from February 13 to 16 at Nancy Almaraz Stadium in Mexico. This tournament marks the second event of their 2025 season.

Established in 2015, the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge is notable for being the first Division I softball event held outside of the United States. The Redbirds will face BYU on Thursday, followed by games against FIU and Indiana on Friday. Their participation concludes with a game against North Dakota State on Saturday.

The Redbirds started their season at the USF-Rawlings Invitational with a record of 1-4, securing their only win against Delaware. Four players from Illinois State have been named to the 2025 All-MVC preseason team: seniors Delainey Bryant and Bella Wilkerson, along with sophomores Adisyn Hopkins and Paige McLeod.

BYU enters this tournament after a strong start, winning all three of their initial games. Key players include freshman Ilove'a Brittingham and pitchers Kaysen Korth and Jada Villegas. FIU also began their season well with a 4-1 finish at the Felsberg Invitational. Indiana showcased similar success by outscoring opponents significantly during their opening matches.

North Dakota State achieved a balanced start with three wins and two losses in tight contests over their opening weekend. Notable performances came from senior pitcher Savy Williams and sophomore Kaitlyn Dunford.

Illinois State has been picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference's preseason poll for 2025.

For more updates on Illinois State Softball, fans can follow them across social media platforms or visit GoRedbirds.com.