• Box Score: Illinois State def. Creighton 3-1

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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Creighton senior Karisa Almgren had 13 kills and Laurel Sanford a team-best eight blocks, but it wasn't enough as the fourth-seeded Bluejay volleyball team was upset by fifth-seeded Illinois State 25-23, 23-25, 25-16, 25-15 in the quarterfinal of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament Thursday.

The Redbirds, which snapped a five-match losing skid to the Bluejays, improve to 18-13 and advance to Friday's semifinal match against top-seeded Northern Iowa (30-1). Creighton, which reached the tournament semifinals in the previous five seasons, ends its season at 17-14.

Creighton fell behind 13-6 early in the first set behind a variety of attack errors. But Megan Bober served up a 9-0 run that included an ace and three Sanford block assists as CU went ahead 15-13. Illinois State scored the next three points to take a 16-15 lead and wouldn't trail the rest of the set.

The score was tied eight times, including at 20-20, 22-22 and 23-23, before ISU scored on a block error and a LeighAnn Hranka kill to close out the set. Heather Thorson led CU with four kills in the set, while Bober, Brooke Boggs and Julianne Mandolfo each had six digs in the frame.

With the score tied at 14-all in the second set, the Redbirds scored four of the next five points. Creighton came out of a timeout by scoring the next four points on Natalie Hackbarth's serve to retake a 19-18 lead. Illinois State got a sideout before CU reeled off four points in a row.

Karisa Almgren had two kills to start the run, which was continued by a Sanford kill and a Thorson block. The Jays took a 24-21 lead on a Leah McNary kill, then wasted a pair of set points before McNary's sixth kill of the night handed CU a 25-23 victory to even the match.

The third set got out of hand early, as Illinois State used an 11-0 run to go up 14-4 and the Jays never got within five the rest of the frame of an eventual 25-16 ISU victory.

Jays gobble up awards

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Highlighted by Missouri Valley Conference Libero of the Year Julianne Mandolfo, the Creighton had three players named first-team all-conference on Thursday. Two other Bluejay women were named to the Valley's all-freshman team.

Mandolfo was joined by Creighton teammates Laurel Sanford and Megan Bober as first-team all-Valley choices, just the second time that the Jays had three first-team all-league picks.

The Valley coaches also voted a pair of Bluejays to the all-freshman team for the first time since 2005, as Leah McNary and Michelle Sicner were recognized.

UNI, along with Missouri State, Wichita State and Creighton, the league's top four finishers combined to place 15 athletes on the first- and second-team all-conference squads.

Northern Iowa's Bre Payton was named player of the year. Wichita State's Camri Zwiesler earned defensive player of the year honors. Mandolfo is the first Creighton player to win the league's libero of the year honor. Also, Missouri State's Olivia Brand was named freshman of the year.

UNI's Bobbi Petersen, named coach of the year, has guided the Panthers to a 30-1 overall record and a perfect 18-0 record in Valley action for the third-straight season. UNI won its 15th regular-season title. UNI's Petersen has been named the Coach of the Year three times previously.

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