McLean County Times

After completing a challenging non-conference schedule, the Illinois State volleyball team is set to begin Missouri Valley Conference play with road matches against Indiana State and Bradley on September 26 and 27. The Redbirds' early season included games against nine teams with winning records, featuring opponents from the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC.

The team has been involved in several closely contested sets this year. Illinois State played nine sets that extended beyond the standard 25 points, posting a 4-5 record in those situations. Their second-set win over Butler, which ended at 34-32, marked the second-highest scoring set in program history and ranks as the fifth-highest scoring set in NCAA volleyball this season.

Through their first twelve matches, Illinois State matched a program record by playing nine extra-time sets, equaling the mark set by the 2021 squad.

The Redbirds drew significant fan support during their opening weekend. The match against Illinois attracted 2,874 spectators to CEFCU Arena, ranking among the top ten home crowds for Illinois State since 2003.

A member of the team received her second career MVC Player of the Week award after recording 29 kills over nine sets during opening weekend. She averages 3.22 kills per set with a .278 hitting percentage and is one of two players in the conference averaging at least three kills and digs per set. She also ranks within the top fifteen in four statistical categories: kills per set, hitting percentage, aces per set, and digs per set. In matches against DePaul and Oakland during opening weekend, she led Illinois State in kills.

Illinois State started its season by sweeping its opening weekend matches and winning nine consecutive sets. The streak extended to eleven straight sets after taking the first two against Loyola, tying for the second-longest season-opening run in school history.

Nine different Redbird players have recorded double-digit kills in a match this season—matching a high last achieved in 2003.

Several players have earned recognition on all-tournament teams throughout non-conference play. At Western Michigan's tournament, Aida Shadewald was named Most Valuable Player while Arianna Rossi and Ruth Ziegler joined her on the All-Tournament Team. Logan Grevengoed was recognized at the Kwik Star Klassic; Caitlyn Little received honors at the Dayton Flyer Invitational.

In preseason polling by Missouri Valley Conference coaches, Illinois State was picked to finish third after returning eight players who started at least nine matches last year and bringing in what is considered their strongest recruiting class ever. Both Aida Shadewald and Khenedi Guest were selected for preseason All-MVC honors.

This weekend’s opponents are familiar ones for Illinois State: they hold a 72-10 all-time record against Indiana State and are 67-14 versus Bradley.