PEORIA, Ill. ? Illinois State claimed the first round in the annual I-74 rivalry with Bradley, downing the Braves 30-20, 30-27, 30-20 at Robertson Memorial Field House in Missouri Valley Conference volleyball action Friday night.

Bradley (1-16 overall, 0-6 MVC) was led by freshman Emily Austin (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville), who had 10 kills, four blocks and hit at a .381 clip. Fellow freshman Melissa Collins (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South) added nine kills, while the senior duo of Nikki Pierzchala (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview) and Jenna Harrison (Edwardsville, Ill./Metro East Lutheran) each added seven kills. Harrison boasted a .636 attack percentage and also added a match-best five blocks in the loss. Junior Sam Black (Atalissa, Iowa/West Liberty) had 32 assists and 11 digs for her team-leading seventh double-double of the year.

Illinois State (12-6 overall, 4-3 MVC) led from start to finish in the first game and hit .419 as a team in a 30-20 victory. The Braves were within four points at 19-15, before the Redbirds scored three consecutive points to extend their lead to 22-15. Bradley would cut the lead to six points on two more occasions before ISU's Peggy Riessen notched a pair of her six game-one kills to help seal the win in the opener for Illinois State.

The Braves battled from behind in game two and nearly came from behind to win the set. Illinois State led 17-9, before Bradley went on an 8-3 run to pull to within three points at 20-17. The Redbirds pushed their lead back to six points (25-19), but the Braves countered with a 4-1 scoring spurt to make it a three point game (26-23). A Collins kill pulled Bradley to within striking distance at 28-26, but the Redbirds and Braves traded kills before Katri Staehlin ended the game with her fifth kill of the set to put the finishing touches on a 30-27 Illinois State win.

Illinois State built an early lead in game three and never looked back, pounding out 20 kills and four service aces to complete the sweep with a 30-20 victory. Harrison found the floor with all four of her attack attempts and added four block assists in the frame, but the rest of the Braves combined to hit .097.

Bradley hit .197 as a team and outblocked Illinois State nine to three, but the Redbirds hit .279 as a squad and countered with 11 aces. ISU also owned a 53-43 edge in digs. Staehlin led Illinois State with 15 kills and a .444 attack percentage, while Riessen added 14 kills and hit at a .440 clip. Erin Lindsey added six kills, 43 assists and two aces for the Redbirds.

Bradley returns to action Saturday at Missouri Valley Conference rival Indiana State. First serve in Terre Haute, Ind., is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).