LeighAnn Hranka recorded nine kills in Illinois State's win over Indiana State on Friday. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL -Illinois State's volleyball team defeated Indiana State in three sets Friday night at Redbird Arena, leading by as many as 10 points in all three sets of the Missouri Valley Conference action. The Redbirds won, 25-13, 25-16 and 25-14.

Illinois State, which moved its overall record to 13-9 and  7-5 in the Valley, was led by in kills by Ashley Rosch and LeighAnn Hranka with nine each. Hranka also finished with a team-high attack percentage of .692, scoring nine kills on just 13 attempts with no errors.

In the first set, Hranka recorded two kills on just three attempts, while Rosch recorded three kills in the set. Three straight Indiana State attacking errors gave the Redbirds an eight-point lead, 14-6. The Redbirds continued to dominate the set by taking a 10-point lead at 19-9. Indiana State wasn’t able to respond as Illinois State won the set 25-13.

In the second set, the Redbirds scored four straight points to take a 5-1 lead. Indiana State regrouped and pulled within 6-4, but the Redbirds regained momentum scoring three unanswered points and stretching the lead to 9-4.

The Redbirds would continue to outscore the Sycamores, eventually commanding a lead of 22-12. Rosch led the Redbirds at the net in the second set with a perfect-hitting percentage recording five kills on five attempts. Brooklyn Hlafka was also dominate at the net recording four kills on six attempts.

After the break, the Redbirds took the offensive and scored the first three points. They kept up the intensity and jumped to a significant 14-4 lead. Indiana State fought back, reducing the Illinois State lead to as little as seven late in the set, but the stingy Redbirds held the Sycamore attacks at bay.

Hranka led the team in kills in the third with four on six attempts. She also led the team in points in the third with 4.5. The loss dropped Indiana State's record to 3-18 overall and 1-10 in the conference.

The Redbirds return to action Nov. 2 at Redbird Arena against Missouri State at 7:05 p.m.