Illinois State Volleyball wraps up intense weekend, going up against Belmont University and Murray State.
Image courtesy of Redbird Athletics
NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team wrapped up an intense weekend on the road, first sweeping Belmont in impressive fashion before battling all the way to a five-set thriller at Murray State.
The weekend opened with a statement victory at Belmont, where the Redbirds controlled the match from start to finish in a 3–0 sweep (25–18, 25–20, 25–21). ISU’s offense was firing on all cylinders, posting a season-best .305 hitting percentage. Hannah Reichensperger was nearly unstoppable, finishing with 10 kills on a remarkable .769 hitting, one of the best single-match percentages in program history, while also tying for the team lead with four blocks.
Caitlyn Little continued her strong season with 10 kills and four aces, while MVC blocks leader Khenedi Guest added nine kills and four blocks of her own. Setter Ella Craggs guided the attack with 33 assists as the Redbirds stayed perfect all-time against Belmont, improving to 6–0 in the series.
Less than 24 hours later, Illinois State showed grit and heart at Murray State. After dropping the first two sets (25–21, 25–17), the Redbirds stormed back with a dominant 25–12 win in the third and a clutch 26–24 finish in the fourth to force a deciding set. Despite cutting an early deficit to just two points late, ISU fell 15–11 in a dramatic finish.
Little and Guest led the offense again with 13 kills each, while libero Arianna Rossi anchored the defense with 21 digs. Oliwia Caputa turned in a breakout match with 12 kills and a career-high 17 digs, and Craggs recorded her second straight double-double with 43 assists and 15 digs.
With steady momentum and standout performances across the roster, the Redbirds now return home looking to turn energy into wins during homecoming weekend against Drake on Friday and Southern Illinois on Saturday. The team has shown power, resilience, and hunger, setting the stage for a big week back in Redbird Arena.
Both matches will be broadcasted on wznd.com with Friday’s contest starting at 5:50 p.m. and Saturday’s starting at 6:50 p.m.
For all things Redbird volleyball, stay tuned to wznd.com.
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