The Illinois State volleyball team continued its winning ways over Drake, while prolonging its losing streak with Creighton over the weekend.

The Redbirds split two matches for the second consecutive weekend, this time on the road, losing to Creighton on Friday to make it 11 losses out of their last 12 tries against the Bluejays. ISU defeated Drake on Saturday to improve to 28-2 in their last 30 matches against the Bulldogs.

After losing the first two sets to the Bluejays, ISU rallied to take the third game, but dropped the fourth to lose the match in four sets. The Redbirds had their way with Drake, disposing of the Bulldogs in straight sets.

After going 1-1 over the weekend, the Redbirds are now 10-8, 2-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference

ISU vs. Drake

ISU swept DU in three sets (25-21, 25-23, 25-19) in the second match of the weekend in Des Moines, Iowa, avenging a loss from the day before.

Sophomore outside hitter Shannon McGlaughlin led the way for the Redbirds with 17 kills and a .359 hitting percentage.

“It was a really good offensive match for Shannon,” ISU head  coach Melissa Myers said. “In the first set, she started to get some really good kills and made some really savvy, smart decisions.”

Dave Schiller / Daily Vidette Senior Staff: ISU’s Tabitha Visk added five kills in the Redbirds’ sweep over Drake this past weekend. ISU fell, however, to Creighton in four sets.

The ‘Birds recorded two season-highs for a three-set match with 45 kills and 54 digs. ISU earned a .295 hitting percentage, compared to .159 for DU, and the Redbirds out blocked the Bulldogs, 6-3.

ISU built a lead as large as seven points in the first set and coasted to victory, 25-21.

In the second set, the Redbirds trailed by two points early in the frame, but ISU began to grab the momentum and eventually tied the score at 16. From there, the Redbirds went on a 4-0 run to take a 20-16 lead.

However, Drake went on to outscore ISU 7-1 to earn a 23-21 advantage. The Redbirds tallied four straight scores to take the set, 25-23. Senior middle blocker Tabitha Visk and sophomore middle blocker LeighAnn Hranka each posted five kills in the frame.

The Redbirds jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the third set, but the Bulldogs rallied to tie the score, 10-10. However, the Redbirds finished the set strong, similar to the way they started it, to win the game 25-19 and take the match.

“I think it was really great execution for us to finish the three-set win,” Myers said. “There were some ups and downs, but an overall great offensive match for the team.”

ISU vs. Creighton

The Redbirds did not open the weekend the way they had hoped, losing to CU in four sets (18-25, 24-26, 26-24, 20-25).

“I think Creighton is a very good team and we didn’t have the offense to beat them tonight,” Myers said. “We made critical errors at key times. There were plenty of opportunities and we are going to have to be a little sharper.”

The sophomore duo of McGlaughlin and Visk posted 15 and 12 kills, respectively. Junior libero Jenny Menendez recorded 26 digs and senior setter Kristin Stauter registered 31 assists, 8 kills and 11 digs.

The Bluejays held the advantage over the Redbirds in a number of statistical categories. Creighton out killed (60-47), out blocked (10-7) and out hit (.184-.093) the Redbirds.

The ‘Birds’ slow start in the first set plagued them and they could not recover, falling in the game, 18-25.

ISU held a 24-21 advantage late in the second set, but CU went on a 5-0 run to close out the frame and take it, 26-24.

In the third set, the Bluejays were up 24-22, just one point away from earning a three-game sweep in the match. However, the Redbirds closed out the frame on a 4-0 run to win the set, 26-24.

ISU was behind 5-1 at the beginning of the fourth set and could never recover, losing 20-25 in the final game and falling in the match.

“Any time you start with that kind of deficit [early in a set] you are going to have to work to get back, especially against this team on the road,” Myers said.