EAST PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley nearly matched Illinois State's dig total on Dig For the Cure Night, but the Braves couldn't overcome an efficient offensive attack by their I-74 rivals as the Redbirds topped BU 25-22, 25-15, 25-22 in Missouri Valley Conference volleyball action Thursday at Lorene Ramsey Gym.

The Braves (4-19 overall, 0-10) kept things close in the first set despite the Redbirds hitting .357 in the frame compared to a .154 Bradley attack percentage. BU led as late as 20-19 and the score was tied at 22-22 after an ISU service error. Illinois State (12-10 overall, 5-5 MVC) scored the final three points on kills by Mallory Leggett, Peggy Riessen and MC Richmond to take the opening set 25-22.

The Redbirds opened the second set much like the ended the first, scoring the first four points of the frame en route to a 6-1 advantage and never looked back. Bradley struggled offensively, hitting .062 in the second set, while Illinois State hit .265 and boasted a 13-8 edge in kills in the frame in the 25-15 Redbird win.

The Braves turned in its best offensive set of the night in the third set, hitting .364 as a team. Illinois State answered with its most efficient attacking set of the evening, however, attacking at .424 clip. The third set featured 10 ties and three lead changes, but Illinois State would take control of the set with a 6-2 spurt to break open a 16-16 tie and take a 22-18 lead. Bradley rallied to within two points at 23-21 on an Emily Austin (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville) kill, but the Redbirds scored two of the next three points to close out the match with a 25-22 victory.

Austin led the Braves offensively, with nine kills while attacking at a .571 clip in addition to adding four block assists to help pace Bradley's defensive efforts. Junior Amy Reichel (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) and sophomore Melissa Collins (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South) each added six kills. The Braves tallied 30 digs in the match, compared to 31 ISU digs, but the Redbirds hit .347 as a team and boasted a 46-30 edge in kills.

Leggett led Illinois State with 13 kills and was one of four Redbird players with nine or more kills. Richmond, Riessen and Katie Culbertson each added nine kills.

Bradley returns to action Saturday when the Braves play host to Indiana State at 8 p.m. at Lorene Ramsey Gym. Saturday's match will be the final match for Bradley at Illinois Central College. The Braves will play the final three home matches of the year on campus at the recently completed Markin Family Student Recreation Center.