McLean County Times

After splitting their opening weekend in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), the Illinois State volleyball team will return to Normal for its 2025 home MVC opener. The Redbirds are set to face the UIC Flames on Thursday and the Valparaiso Beacons on Friday, with both matches scheduled for 6 p.m.

Illinois State’s defense was highlighted in a recent match against Bradley, where fifth-year libero Arianna Rossi recorded 39 digs, tying for the second-highest single-match total in the country this season. Middle blocker Khenedi Guest currently leads the MVC in both total blocks and blocks per set, holding a six-block lead over her closest competitor, Jessica Pickett of Valparaiso.

The team has played in 11 extended sets—those requiring more than 25 points to decide a winner—posting a 6-5 record in those contests. Notably, their second-set win against Butler ended with a score of 34-32, marking the second-highest scoring set in program history and tying for the 11th-highest in NCAA play this season. Through 14 matches, Illinois State has also played in 11 such extended sets, the most by any Redbird team at this point in a season and tied for 14th-most nationally.

Attendance at CEFCU Arena remains strong. During ISU's opening weekend finale against Illinois, 2,874 fans attended—a figure that ranks among the top ten home crowds since 2003.

A member of the Illinois State squad earned her second career MVC Player of the Week honor after collecting 29 kills over nine sets during opening weekend play. She is averaging 3.22 kills per set with a .278 hitting percentage and is one of two players in the MVC averaging at least three kills and three digs per set. She also stands as the only player ranked within the top-15 conference-wide in kills per set, hitting percentage, aces per set, and digs per set.

The Redbirds began their season with nine consecutive set wins by sweeping their opening weekend matches. They extended that streak to 11 after taking two sets from Loyola in their following match, tying for the second-longest season-opening streak in school history.

Nine different Illinois State players have registered double-digit kill matches so far this season, matching the program’s highest total since 2003.

Recognition has come from tournament play as well. In the Western Michigan Tournament, Aida Shadewald earned Most Valuable Player honors while teammates Arianna Rossi and Ruth Ziegler were named to the All-Tournament Team. Logan Grevengoed received similar honors at the Kwik Star Klassic, and Caitlyn Little was recognized during the Dayton Flyer Invitational—bringing the total to five different Redbirds earning All-Tournament Team selections this year.

With eight returning starters from last season and what is considered the program’s best-ever recruiting class, Illinois State was picked to finish third in the preseason MVC Coaches Poll. Aida Shadewald and Khenedi Guest were both named to the preseason All-MVC squad.

Historically, Illinois State holds a combined record of 35-18 against UIC and Valparaiso, including a 14-8 mark at home.