Just before serving earlier this season, outside hitter Sarah Kushner was on the front row alongside fellow Redbird volleyball seniors Kendee Hilliard ’21 and Nicole Land. Kushner smiled and shouted as Kushner glanced from the net senior Katie his libero Katie Weimerskerch and all four Illinois seniors were on the floor. Alright, let’s go! “
The Redbirds scored the points and then won the match.
The four seniors at Illinois State University have won many victories over the past four years. Overall, he went 65-37, and he went 37-15 in Missouri Valley Conference games, earning his third straight Valley Tournament title and his third straight automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. was broken.
This year, they aim to lead the Redbirds to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in program history. In doing so, the Seniors will be the second Illinois volleyball class to participate in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year.
“We are trying to continue the winning tradition while adding new titles,” said Weimerskirch. “We are all stepping up to the challenge and embracing it.”
Missouri Valley Conference favorites Redbirds led by first-year head coach Allie MattersA winner, Matters has led Wright State to two NCAA Tournament appearances in the last three seasons.
“The older group here and their leadership has been really great for us as new staff,” Matters said. Expectation, and I eat that energy.”
An All-Valley First Team selection, Kushner has already made his mark on the Illinois record. She became the 22nd Redbird to reach 1,000 kills in her sweep of the Valley in Indiana last weekend, and the 7th player in program history to reach the 1,000 mark in kills and digs. Weimerskirch, also named to the All-Conference Top Team last season, ranks fifth on Illinois State’s career bargains list.
But rather than individual accolades, the priority for seniors is to win four straight titles while laying the foundation for future success.
“We feel that this program has the potential to grow further in the future,” said Lund, who ranks 22nd in the career block. “It just instills in all the classes behind us the mindset of wanting to be successful. I hope we can carry on the legacy of those who came before us.”
The seniors happily shared the spotlight this season with teammates like junior Caitlin Prondzinski and freshman Regan Heiss, who was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week on Sept. 6. , Heiss earned Valley Defensive Player of the Week honors. As a team, the Redbirds recorded an official win on his September 17th victory over No. 25 Illinois in his 3–2 victory.
Following a seven-game winning streak on the road, the Redbirds will return to Redbird Arena this weekend for their first home conference game of the season. Illinois will host Valparaiso on Friday, September 30 at 6:00 PM. cram arena nightAdmission is free for Friday’s Family Weekend Match, and the Redbirds are currently trying to break the program attendance record of 5,641.
Friday’s game was also billed as a “blackout,” with the Redbirds wearing custom black uniforms at home for the first time, and Illinois State’s first 200 students wearing free black uniforms as part of Young America’s gifted Shirtember. Receive a T-shirt. The first 600 students will receive a free pizza from Pizza Ranch. Redbirds will be hosting the newly added Valley Enemy UIC on Sunday, October 2nd at 4pm.
An early graduate and aspiring track and field administrator seeking a master’s degree in sports management, Hilliard has spent every moment of his senior season, from playing in front of his home crowd to connecting with his teammates. said he was enjoying
“Anytime we’re leading a team discussion, it’s like, ‘Hey, we need to be grateful for this moment, because this is our last,'” Hilliard said.
Kushner added that she and her teammates have grown as players and individuals over the past four years. The composition of the team changes from season to season, but the goals remain the same.
“We want to win the conference. We want to win the tournament,” Kushner said. “I couldn’t have done it without the presence of my seniors and predecessors. increase.”
