Bradley University Athletics

Bradley Volleyball Opens 2020-21 Season Monday At Illinois St.

Evan Temchin

Volleyball 1/22/2021 10:30:00 AM

PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley Volleyball finally makes its return to the court, opening the 2020-21 season Monday, Jan. 25 with a 6 p.m. game at I-74 rival Illinois State. The matchup between the Braves and Redbirds will be available on ESPN+ and kicks off an 18-game Missouri Valley Conference regular-season schedule for BU.

Monday's season opener at Redbird Arena is the first of back-to-back games against Illinois State for Bradley (15-15 overall, 11-7 MVC in 2019), with the two teams squaring off again Feb. 1 at Renaissance Coliseum. Illinois State, which is coming off a 22-12 campaign in 2019, will start its season Friday and Saturday with matches at Marquette.

BradleyBraves.com will provide links to the ESPN+ stream along with live stats for the season opener against the Redbirds.

Claiming both contests against Illinois State in five sets in 2019, Bradley has won each of the last three meetings with its I-74 rival. The current three-match win streak in the series matches the longest in program history against Illinois State and Bradley has taken three consecutive outings from the Redbirds for the first time since the 2001 and 2002 campaigns. Last season's five-set victory at Redbird Arena snapped a 16-match road losing streak in the series that dated back to Sept. 13, 2002.

Bradley will open MVC play against an in-state opponent for the fourth consecutive year after facing Southern Illinois to start conference action each of the past three seasons. The Braves are 18-20 in league openers overall, which includes a 9-10 mark when playing on the road. Bradley has not played Illinois State in a conference opener since 2003. The Braves have won the last two Valley openers played against Illinois State, claiming a five-set home win in 2003 and a four-set road victory in 2002. Bradley is 1-1 when playing in Normal, Ill., to start the conference schedule, dropping a four-set contest in the Gateway Conference opener in 1985.

The 2020-21 season will mark the 47th year of intercollegiate competition for Bradley Volleyball. The Braves have won their season opener in eight of the last 11 seasons dating back to 2008. Overall, Bradley is 25-21 in season openers. The Braves will be starting a season away from home for the seventh consecutive year and 32nd time overall; owning a 6-9 mark when opening a season with a true road match.

Junior Hannah Thompson recorded double-doubles in both matchups with Illinois State last year and finished the 2019 campaign with a school season record 24 double-doubles. Thompson, who was named to the MVC's preseason all-conference squad, was the only player in the league to rank in the top 10 in both kills and digs per set. She starts the year 26th in career kills (765) at Bradley and 16th in career digs (1,079).

Bradley and Illinois State will conclude the regular-season series Monday, Feb. 1 with a 6 p.m. contest at Renaissance Coliseum.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Hannah Thompson: OH; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#6 Hannah Thompson
: 5' 8"; Junior
: OH

Bradley Volleyball Opens 2020-21 Season Monday At Illinois St.

Players Mentioned

#6 Hannah Thompson

Players Mentioned

#6 Hannah Thompson