Bradley Brad 12-7,12-7 MVC

Illinois St. ISU 15-5,13-3 MVC

Bradley Brad

12-7,12-7 MVC

Final

Apr. 02, 2021

Illinois St. ISU

15-5,13-3 MVC

Set Scores
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Bradley Brad	13	25	25	10	(1)
Illinois St. ISU	25	23	27	25	(3)

Box Score

Illinois State Athletics

Volleyball Falls To Illinois State In MVC Semifinals

Box Score

Game Recap: Volleyball | 4/2/2021 6:10:00 PM

NORMAL, Ill. – Junior Hannah Thompson notched her 1,000^th career kill, finishing with 17 kills and 14 digs; but Bradley Volleyball had its season come to an end in the Missouri Valley Conference semifinals with a 25-13, 23-25, 27-25, 25-10 loss to tournament-host Illinois State Friday afternoon at Redbird Arena.

Making its first MVC Tournament semifinal appearance since 2002, Bradley (12-7 overall) was in search of its MVC Tournament title match appearance in program history. Regular-season champion Illinois State hit .314, however, and received 25 kills from Kaylee Martin to top the Braves in four sets.

Thompson, who became the 13^th player in MVC history with 1,000 career kills and 1,400 career digs, is now the 15^th player in Bradley history with 1,000 career kills and moved up two spots on the BU career kills list into 13^th after her team-best 17 kills. She also added 14 digs as she collected her 14^th double-double of the season.

Kora Kauling tallied seven kills and six digs to go with her 34 assists, while freshman Doga Topcicek nearly had a double-double of her own; finishing with nine kills and 20 digs to help pace the Braves.

In the first set, Illinois State (15-5 overall) rattled off seven consecutive points during an 11-1 run that saw the Redbirds build a 13-5 lead. Thompson had four kills during the opening frame, but Illinois State hit .385 in the first set and took the stanza 25-13.

Bradley used a late push to take the second set 25-23 and even the match at one set each. In a set that featured 10 ties and three lead changes, the Braves got a boost from five kills and eight digs in the set from Topcicek. Illinois State led 21-18 when a Topcicek kill sparked a 4-0 BU run that also featured kills from Kauling and Thompson to put Bradley ahead 22-21. ISU's Sarah Kushner had a kill to tie it up at 22-22 and the teams traded points before another Kauling kill gave the Braves set point at 24-23. Sophomore Raeann Bergman capped the 25-23 BU victory with a kill.

Illinois State led by as many six points in the third set (14-8) only to have Bradley storm back and eventually hold three set points. Kauling had back-to-back kills and added a third kill during a 4-1 BU spurt and the Braves later pulled even at 18-18 after three straight kills from sophomore Karagan Coggin. With the Redbirds leading 22-21, Thompson had a kill and ace to put BU back in front 23-22. An ISU error gave BU set point (24-22), but kills by Sydney Holt and Kushner knotted the score at 24-24. A Bergman kill gave Bradley a 25-24 edge, only to have Martin answer with her eighth kill of the frame. A Bradley error and Illinois State block sealed a 27-25 victory for the Redbirds in the pivotal third set.

Illinois State hit .621 in the fourth set, racing out to an 11-4 lead and never looked back as the Redbirds cruised to a 25-10 win to take the match in four.

Thompson had 11 of her 17 kills in the final two sets, with her 1,418 career digs to end the season 20 from breaking the Bradley career mark.

With the victory Illinois State advanced to Saturday's championship match to face the winner of Friday's other MVC Tournament semifinal contest between Northern Iowa and Loyola.

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