PEORIA, Ill. – Bradley Volleyball continues Missouri Valley Conference play Tuesday evening as the Braves welcome I-74 rival Illinois State to Renaissance Coliseum for the second installment of the War on 74 this season. First serve is set for 6 p.m. CT as Bradley looks to even the season series against the Redbirds and secure a key conference victory in front of its home crowd.
Match Information
Bradley vs. Illinois State
Date & Time: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 at 6 p.m. CT
Location: Renaissance Coliseum | Peoria, Ill.
Coverage: Live Stats & ESPN+
War on 74 Rivalry
Tuesday's matchup marks the second meeting of the season between the longtime Central Illinois rivals and the latest chapter in the newly established War on 74 Rivalry Series, presented by COUNTRY Financial.
The rivalry series expands the competition between Bradley and Illinois State beyond athletics, incorporating academic achievement and community engagement into a yearlong competition for the War on 74 trophy.
Illinois State claimed the first volleyball meeting of the season on Oct. 6 in Normal, defeating Bradley in three sets, 25-22, 25-8, 25-20. The Braves will look to reverse that result on their home court as both programs continue their push toward the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
Bradley claimed a thrilling five-set victory over Illinois State in the Redbirds' last visit to Renaissance Coliseum on Sept. 27, 2025.
Illinois State Matchup
Illinois State enters Tuesday's contest at 17-6 overall and 8-4 in Missouri Valley Conference play, sitting third in the conference standings.
The Redbirds split their two home matches over the weekend, defeating Valparaiso before falling to Southern Illinois in five sets Saturday evening. Illinois State held a two-set-to-one advantage against the Salukis but was unable to close out the match, falling 18-25, 25-17, 25-15, 25-27, 10-15.
Bradley Notes
Bradley enters Tuesday's matchup at 12-12 overall and 7-5 in Missouri Valley Conference play following a split weekend at Renaissance Coliseum. The Braves defeated Southern Illinois in a five-set thriller Friday before falling to Valparaiso in three sets Saturday.
Against Southern Illinois, Bradley battled through four tightly contested sets before taking control in the fifth, securing a 15-7 victory to complete the regular-season sweep of the Salukis.
Saturday's matchup against Valparaiso saw Gracie Furlong lead Bradley with 11 kills and nine digs. Dakota Elliott added seven kills on a .636 hitting percentage, while Mairen Mannon recorded seven kills and six blocks. Maria Drapp finished with 29 assists and 10 digs, while Eirini Bitsaktsi contributed a team-high 12 digs.
Across the two weekend matches, Bradley totaled 114 kills, 145 digs and 21 blocks. Drapp recorded double-doubles in both contests, finishing with 85 assists and 42 digs, while Furlong combined for a team-high 32 kills.
