McLean County Times

Illinois State University's volleyball team lost a close five-set match to Valparaiso, despite a strong performance from Khenedi Guest, who achieved a career-high 22 kills. The match scores were 27-29, 21-25, 26-24, 25-21, and 11-15.

The first set saw both teams trading leads with 14 tie scores. At 27-all, Valpo secured the win with a block and kill by Kelly Merk. In the second set, Illinois State led most of the way but Valpo finished strong with nine consecutive points to take the set.

Illinois State responded in the third set after trailing by two sets. The Redbirds tied it at 24 before winning on a kill from Guest and an attack error. In the fourth set, Illinois State overcame a deficit with six straight points and eventually forced a fifth set after scoring five of the last six points.

Valpo started quickly in the deciding set and held off Illinois State's comeback attempt to win the match.

Guest's performance included an attack percentage of .486, marking her fourth match out of five with at least a .400 hitting percentage. She has now led her team in kills twice this season.

Caitlyn Little recorded her fourth straight double-digit kill match with a season-high 17 kills on 55 attempts. She also had 12 digs for her second consecutive double-double and fifth this season.

Aida Shadewald contributed a season-high 14 kills and 19 digs for her third double-double of the year. Hannah Reichensperger added 12 kills and four blocks.

Ella Craggs posted a career-high 55 assists along with 13 digs for her fourth double-double this season. Arianna Rossi led defensively with 30 digs, her second-best career total, adding two service aces.

Illinois State has now played in two extended sets during this match alone, bringing their total to 13 such sets this season—the tenth-most in school history—with over twelve matches left to play.

The Redbirds will next play away games against Belmont on October 10 and Murray State on October 11.