BOCA RATON, Fla. – Illinois State volleyball split its two matches Friday at the Owls Paradise Classic, hosted by FAU. The Redbirds fell to FAU in five sets before sweeping Stetson.

The matches marked the first two of three the Redbirds will play, with the final coming against Mercer on Saturday.

Match 1 (Illinois State v. FAU)

Illinois State falls to FAU in five sets: 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 25-13, 12-15

Set 1

The Redbirds and Owls battled it out in the first set, before ISU gained some momentum with a 3-0 run to go ahead 14-11. After ISU pushed the lead to five, FAU would call its second timeout at 17-12. The Owls battled back to make it a one-point game at 21-20 as the score remained tight down the stretch. After the Owls tied it at 22-22, the Birds closed it out on a 3-1 run for the 25-23 win.

Set 2

After trailing to start set two, ISU used a 4-0 run to tie the score at 12-12 as FAU called timeout. As the two sides battled point-for-point out of the break, the Owls would go ahead 18-15 to force ISU's second timeout of the set. Illinois State would get the score to within one (23-22) before FAU closed the set with two straight points for a 25-22 set win.

Set 3

Illinois State jumped out to an early advantage, scoring seven of the first eight points in set three, and would lead by as many as five at the 14-9 point. The lead was eventually lost, but the Redbirds stayed tough to remain close through the middle stages. With the score 19-18, the momentum shifted in FAU's favor due to a crucial 3-0 run by the Owls. FAU used that momentum to finish the set, winning by a score of 25-21.

Set 4

Once again, Illinois State gained an early lead, 7-2, thanks to the efforts of senior Mekaila Aupiu. The lead would remain with the Redbirds throughout the set as ISU led by as much as nine (19-10) before ISU finished on a 4-0 run for the 25-13 win.

Set 5

The Redbirds and Owls started the fifth set trading points back-and-forth to a 4-4 draw, before FAU slightly separated themselves going ahead 9-7. FAU was able to stave off the ISU comeback and took the set, 15-12, for the match victory.

ILLINOIS STATE STATS LEADERS (vs FAU)

Kills: Aida Shadewald (16)

Digs: Sammi Bunch (21)

Assists: Mekaila Aupiu (26)

Service Aces: Six players (1)

Total Blocks: Maggie McCrary (6)

ILLINOIS STATE NOTES (vs FAU)

- Illinois State (.152) outhit FAU (.142)

- Junior Aida Shadewald recorded her sixth double-double of 2024 (16 kills, 15 digs)

- Junior Sammi Bunch recorded her first double-double of 2024 (21 digs, 11 assists)

- Five Redbirds finished with double-digit digs (Bunch, Shadewald, Madison Smith, Oliwia Caputa, Olivia Baierl)

Match 2 (Illinois State v. Stetson)

Illinois State sweeps Stetson: 25-20, 25-15, 25-13

Set 1

Neither squad gave much ground as they came to an even score of 15-15 in the early goings. The Redbirds then rattled off a 5-0 run with a quartet of freshman in Ruth Ziegler, Khenedi Guest, Lilly Croshaw, and Oliwia Caputa each slamming home kills to create a little separation. Stetson would not go away, however, but it was the Redbirds who finished the set on a 5-3 run to take the set, 25-20.

Set 2

As Stetson led 11-10, ISU got into a groove and went on a 10-3 run to lead 20-13 and pull away from the Hatters. The set came to an end with Illinois State taking it 25-15, off a 5-0 run, and going up 2-0 in the match.

Set 3

Stetson got out to the early lead in set three as the Redbirds looked to close it out. After tying the score at 5-5, ISU went on a 6-1 run for a 11-6 lead off back-to-back-to-back kills by Khenedi Guest. The Birds would not look back, stretching the lead to as much as nine (20-11), before Illinois State closed the set 25-13, and the match, 3-0.

ILLINOIS STATE STATS LEADERS (vs Stetson)

Kills: Khenedi Guest (14)

Digs: Madison Smith (19)

Assists: Mekaila Aupiu (33)

Service Aces: Madison Smith & Mekaila Aupiu (2)

Total Blocks: Maggie McCrary (2)

ILLINOIS STATE NOTES (vs Stetson)

- Illinois State (.274) outhit Stetson (.036)

- Senior Mekaila Aupiu recorded her fourth double-double of 2024 (33 assists, 10 digs)

- Freshman Khenedi Guest set a new career high with 14 kills on 20 swings (.550 hitting %)

- Three Redbirds tallied double-digit kills (Guest, Ruth Ziegler, Aida Shadewald)

UP NEXT

Illinois State looks to end the weekend strong on Saturday morning when it faces Mercer at 10 a.m. CT. The match will be broadcast via FloVolleyball, which requires a paid subscription.

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