Redbirds Rockin’, ISU Volleyball Sweep Weekend Road Trip
Written by Cason Schingoethe on October 7, 2024
Image Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics
NORMAL, Ill. – After a slow start to conference play at home last weekend, Illinois State Redbird Volleyball went on the road and dominated the weekend, sweeping the road trip and improving to 8-9 on the season and 3-1 in the conference play.
The Redbirds’ weekend was full of travel. They spent Friday in Springfield, Missouri, taking on Missouri State and then made the trip back stateside to Carbondale to take on Southern Illinois.
The weekend did not start the way ISU wanted. They dropped the first set in Springfield 25-21, and it looked like this match had the potential to turn out like some of their earlier games, where leads slipped away throughout the match. Fortunately, the Redbirds were able to turn a corner, as they went on to win the next three sets and come away with a solidifying win.
Aida Shadewald led the way in the match with 17 kills, really setting the tone for the rest of the team. Two other players, Khenedi Guest and Caitlyn Little, both reached double digits against the Bears.
Balance really paved the way for success in this one, as the offense complemented each other perfectly, with double the kills to the team’s errors (52-21). With a high success rate on shots and 51 assists in the game, this one was a well-rounded win for the team, and that momentum carried into Carbondale on Saturday.
The Redbirds replicated their victory over Missouri State against the Salukies. ISU was firing on all cylinders, and the offense was able to mimic the game prior despite hitting the ball worse statistically.
With a kill total rivaling Friday’s match and more assists in this one, the Birds were aggressive out of the gate in this one, winning the first set, dropping the second, and finishing it out by winning sets three and four. The Redbirds were led by Caitlyn Little, who continues to break out for the Redbirds as a young star up front on the attack.
Little, along with former MVC newcomer of the week Khenedi Guest, have become pivotal to this team’s success so far and will be huge contributors to come, especially in Hannah Reichensberger’s continued little play while she continues to recover from injury.
The Redbirds now look to this weekend as they return to CEFCU Arena on Friday against rival and consistent top seed in the MVC, the Indiana State Sycamores.
