TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - After a grueling non-conference schedule that featured games against nine schools with winning records, including two from the Big Ten and one more each from the Big 12 and ACC, the Illinois State volleyball squad opens Missouri Valley Conference play on Friday and Saturday night with a two-match road trip against Indiana State and Bradley.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

This season the Redbirds have played in nine sets that have needed more than 25 points to secure a win, and ISU is 4-5 in those sets. ISU's second-set win against Butler saw a score of 34-32, which is the second-highest scoring set in program history, and is the fifth-highest scoring set in the NCAA this season.

BONUS TIME

This season through a dozen matches, the Redbirds have played in nine sets in which the score is above the peviously-scheduled stopping point. That is tied for the highest total by a Redbird team through 12 matches in program history, along with the 2021 squad which also had nine extra-time sets through 12 matches.

BIG CROWD FOR OPENING WEEKEND

During ISU's opening weekend closer against Illinois, 2,874 fans were on-hand inside CEFCU Arena for the tournament. That total is among the 10 best crowds to see the Redbirds play at home since 2003.
 

MVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The award is her second career MVC Player of the Week honor, as she had previously earned the award on October 7, 2024. She had 29 total kills over nine sets in the opening weekend, and she is averaging 3.22 kills per set, while hitting at a .278 percentage. She is one of two players in the MVC to be averaging at least 3.0 kills and digs, and the only player to rank inside of the top-15 in kills per set, hitting percentage, aces per set, and digs per set. The Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, native, led the Redbirds in kills during two of her three matches on the week, knocking down a season-high 12 in the opener against 2024 NIVC qualifier DePaul, and 11 more against Oakland in the weekend finale.

CONSECUTIVE SET WINS

By sweeping the opening weekend of the 2025 season, the Redbirds won nine consecutive sets. The Redbirds won the first two sets of their next match against Loyola, running the consecutive set streak to 11, tied for the second-longest season-opening streak in school history.

DOUBLE-DIGIT KILLS

This season the Redbirds have had nine student-athletes (Ruth Ziegler, Khenedi Guest, Caitlyn Little, Logan Grevengoed, Aida Shadewald, Oliwia Caputa, Ne'Khaela Rogers, Abby Reck, and Hannah Reichensperger) record a match with double-digit kills, tied for the most in a season since 2003.
 

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS

In the season-opening Western Michigan Tournament, three Redbirds - Aida Shadewald, Arianna Rossi, and Ruth Ziegler - were named to the All-Tournament Team, with Shadewald earning Most Valuable Player honors. A week later, Logan Grevengoed was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Kwik Star Klassic. In the team's final tournament - the Dayton Flyer Invitational - Caitlyn Little earned All-Tournament Team honors, as five different players earned All-Tournament team honors this season.

PRESEASON POLL

Returning eight student-athletes that started at least nine matches last season, while bringing in the top-rated recruiting class in program history, has the Illinois State volleyball team picked to finish third in the preseason Missouri Valley Coaches Poll. Two Redbirds – Aida Shadewald and Khenedi Guest – were named to the preseason All-MVC squad.
 

ALL-TIME SERIES

Facing off this weekend against Indiana State and Bradley, the Redbirds are seeing two of the schools they have played among the most in program history. Illinois State is 72-10 all-time against the Sycamores, while sporting a 67-14 record against the Braves.