Illinois State Volleyball Wraps Regular Season, Prepares for MVC Tournament Rematch with UIC

NORMAL, Ill. -In a gritty, momentum-swinging battle that went the distance, Illinois State came out on top in five sets against Valparaiso, earning a revenge victory after dropping the earlier meeting in Normal this season. The match featured long runs, clutch points and standout defensive play on both sides, as six Redbirds reached at least six kills in a balanced offensive effort.

Illinois State weathered an early Valparaiso surge in the opening frame, erasing a 12-8 deficit with a 4-0 run and later breaking away with a 6-1 burst to secure the 25-21 win.

The Beacons answered in set two, flipping a tight start into a late push to even the match with a 25-21 victory. Valparaiso continued to control momentum into the third, pulling away midway through the set and taking a convincing 25-16 decision to go ahead 2-1.

The fourth set became the turning point — and the most dramatic frame of the night. After trailing 5-1, ISU clawed back and eventually built a 21-17 lead, only for Valparaiso to force ties at 24 and 25. A service error and a clutch kill from Khenedi Guest kept the match alive and sent the battle to a deciding fifth.

With energy surging, Illinois State took command in the final frame, racing out to a 10-6 lead and never looking back. An ace from Hannah Reichensperger and a kill by Aida Shadewald sealed the 15-8 finish and the Redbirds’ first five-set win in more than a month.

Shadewald tallied two aces, pushing her to 128 in her career and moving her into 11th in ISU history, tied with Patti Hoppa. Arianna Rossi continued her defensive dominance with 25 digs — her 21st double-digit performance and seventh 20-plus dig match of the season.

Despite riding the high of a thrilling five-set victory against Valparaiso, ISU’s win streak was stopped at five matches after running into the buzzsaw that is UIC.

Despite double-digit kill performances from Shadewald (13) and Oliwia Caputa (10), Illinois State struggled to find a rhythm on offense, hitting just .101 — its lowest hitting percentage since its loss to Drake on Oct. 25.

Even with the loss, ISU still looked strong on defense as the Redbirds continued to perform at a high level up front. Guest added five more blocks, finishing her season with an impressive 90.

ISU and UIC were tied 1-1 going into the third set but ultimately fell in four, with the Flames taking the match. Aside from the first set, the final three frames were each decided by five points or fewer, as the Redbirds showed the growth they have made over the last month of play.

With the loss to UIC, Illinois State ends the 2025 regular season at 13-15. Conference play did not start well for the Redbirds; after their loss to Drake in October, ISU sat at 3-7 in the MVC. But the team mounted a late-season surge, winning five of its last six matches to punch its ticket to the MVC Tournament, finishing 8-8 in league play and earning a first-round rematch with UIC.

The regular season was full of ups and downs for the Redbirds — from looking like a force on opening weekend to falling near the bottom of the MVC in October. If this team has proven anything, it’s that it is resilient. Whether facing challenges on or off the court, the Redbirds have found a way to battle through and reach the postseason.

The beauty of the playoffs is that everyone resets to 0-0. Anyone can make a run at the conference title and the automatic NCAA Tournament bid. And while the Redbirds may not be the favorite, one thing is certain: They are not going down without a fight.

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