Mainly clear. Low 61F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Mainly clear. Low 61F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.

Illinois State head volleyball coach at her introductory press conference March 14 at the Aaron Leetch Legacy Club. Matters and the Redbirds were picked to take the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference crown in the preseason poll.

Kaity Weimerskirch, Illinois State volleyball

Sarah Kushner, Illinois State volleyball

Illinois State head volleyball coach at her introductory press conference March 14 at the Aaron Leetch Legacy Club. Matters and the Redbirds were picked to take the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference crown in the preseason poll.

Coming off four straight Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championships, Illinois State volleyball has a target on their back heading into the 2022 season as the Redbirds look to make it five for the first time in school history.

With the departure of Leah Johnson and arrival of new head coach Allie Matters, the Redbirds will look a little different from their 2021 championship run, and Matters is ready to show why ISU was picked to win The Valley. 

"The coaches have spoken and they think that we have everything that we need to win a championship," Matters said on the Redbirds' high expectations. "I don't blame them. I'm excited and I think good teams use this as motivation. I don't want my team to be paralyzed by it. If we're picked first, we're picked first and the results going to be the same and we're here to win a championship."

With big shoes to fill, Matters brings a resume to behold into ISU, leading Wright State University to two Horizon League regular season titles including one NCAA Tournament appearance in four years with the team. 

Despite the change at the top, leadership within the players remains strong with the retention of senior stars Kaity Weimerskirch and Sarah Kushner, both First-Team All-MVC recipients in 2021 and a focal point of the Redbirds this season. 

Kaity Weimerskirch, Illinois State volleyball

"We're a little bit opposite of each other on the court. She's pretty dialed in and I'm a little bit more laid back and relaxed, so I think she brings a lot of intensity and I bring a calm side," Weimerskirch said on her and Kushner's relationship on the court. "The way we balance each other out is really cool and we're really excited to help this team hopefully get back to the championship this year." 

The combination of new faces and experience has forced the Redbirds to take inventory and create a new identity for themselves ahead of what is poised to be a big season. 

Sarah Kushner, Illinois State volleyball

"I think we're still trying to find that identity. We have a lot of new faces in the gym and a new system and we've only been with the coaches for about two weeks, so I think we're still trying to find our groove," Kushner said. "I think we're definitely very passionate and very competitive. I told someone else, 'If you don't show up, someone else will and keep you on your toes.' I think that's an identity we're starting to form, just being super competitive." 

With the season ready to begin Friday at Cincinnati, the pieces seem to have fallen into place for the Redbirds as they look to continue their dominant stretch and leave their marks in the history books of ISU volleyball. 

The Redbirds will kick off the season at 10 a.m. Friday when they travel to Cincinnati, Ohio, to face off against Cincinnati in the first of three games at the UC Tournament. 

SCOTT PREROST is Sports Editor for The Vidette. Prerost can be conactacted at swprero@ilstu.edu. Follow Prerost on Twitter at @Scotty_Prerost   

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Coming off a second-place regular season finish and a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament …

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