The women’s golf team proved that the fourth time is a charm, as the Redbirds overcame the odds and recorded their fourth-consecutive State Farm Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Championship title at the Weibring Golf Club in the spring—a first in the history of the league.
Head coach Darby Sligh was named MVC Coach of the Year for the fourth straight year, becoming the first coach in conference history to receive the honor four consecutive years.
The victory marked Illinois State’s 11th team title, and the first time a host school has won the championship since Bradley in 1999. The weekend’s tournament was the first time a championship was limited to two rounds since 1996.
In defending its championship crown, ISU carded a two-round 597, placing the team 21 strokes ahead of second-place Wichita State. It was the largest winning margin in six years.
Brianna Cooper collected the Redbird’s 12th individual title in school history, and became the first freshman to win the MVC Championship since LPGA member and former Redbird Samantha Richdale ’06 won in 2003.
