Illinois State ILS 3-2, 1-0 MVC

Bradley BRAD 0-1, 0-1 MVC

Illinois State ILS

3-2, 1-0 MVC

Final

Feb. 01, 2021

Bradley BRAD

0-1, 0-1 MVC

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	F
Illinois State ILS	25	25	23	(0)
Bradley BRAD	27	27	25	(3)

Box Score

Josh Schwam

Volleyball Flips Script Against Illinois State

The Braves opened their home schedule with a 3-sets win against the rival Redbirds

Game Recap: Volleyball | 2/1/2021 8:52:00 PM | Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications

PEORIA, IL – A week after suffering a 3-set loss at Illinois State to open the season last Monday, Bradley (1-1, 1-1 MVC) flipped the script against the I-74 Rival Redbirds (3-3, 1-1 MVC) Monday night at Renaissance Coliseum by earning a 3-0 win of their own: 27-25, 27-25 and 25-23.

Freshman middle blocker Abby Johnson had a big night at the net, finishing with three block solos and three block assists, while putting down five kills in her 17 swings. Junior Hannah Thompson chipped in a match-high 17 digs, while adding eight kills, two service aces, two assists and a solo block, combining with Johnson to lead a defensive effort that limited Illinois State to a .148 attack percentage.

Freshman Doga Topcicek led Bradley's offensive effort with her first double-digit kills total, finishing with a team-best 10 kills. Sophomore Karagan Coggin matched Thompson's eight kills and led the Braves with a .333 hitting percentage, while finishing second to Johnson with four blocks (one solo and three assists).

Sarah Kushner led Illinois State with a match-high 17 kills and Kendee Hilliard added 10 kills for the Redbirds, but their 27 combined kills came on 81 swings with 19 combined errors. Kaitlyn Prondzinski had nine kills and five blocks (one solo, four assists).

After racing out to a 10-5 lead in the opening set, Bradley saw the Redbirds steadily fight back and eventually found itself in a 22-20 hole. Topcicek's lone block of the night halted Illinois State's surge and Johnson followed with another block to forge a 22-22 tie. The teams traded points, until Bradley rattled off three straight to close out the set, 27-25, on a Johnson and Coggin block, a Nicole Lund error and Coggin's set-clinching kill.

Illinois State won the first two points of the second set, but could not gain any further separation. Bradley appeared to have the set in hand, taking a 24-20 lead on a Topcicek kill, only to see the Redbirds win the next four points on a Kushner kill, two hitting errors from Coggin and a block. Coggin rebounded with two kills in the next three service points and Maddie Peterson closed the set with with an ace.

Bradley forced Illinois State into a -.022 hitting percentage with 13 errors in the final set, seven coming from blocks from the Braves. Thompson's lone block of the night evened the set at 22-22 and the Redbirds followed with two wide swings to bring about match point. After Illinois State staved off the first match point on a Thompson errors, the Braves clinched the series split when Hiliard was called for an error, completing the 25-23 decision.

Bradley will be on the road for its next two Valley matches, Sunday and Monday at Drake. Both matches will be streamed as part of The Valley on ESPN initiative with the ESPN3 or ESPN+ assignments to be determined this week.

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