Redbird volleyball picked 2nd in MVC

Staf Jankiewicz
Illinois State’s Stef Jankiewicz joins fellow Redbird Kaylee Martin on the MVC’s Preseason Team. (GoRedbirds.com)

By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – Missouri Valley Conference volleyball coaches have selected Illinois State to finish second in this year’s league race.

Northern Iowa is picked to win the Valley. Missouri State and Bradley are tied for third with Loyola and Drake closely behind in fifth and sixth. UNI and Illinois State shared the MVC title last season.

Reigning Valley Setter of the Year Stef Jankiewicz and outside hitter Kaylee Martin represent the Redbirds on the preseason All-Valley team. Jackiewicz and Martin earned All-MVC First Team honors last season.

Illinois State opens the season at North Texas next weekend. The Redbirds’ home opener is September 13 against Illinois in the Redbird Classic.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…