TERRE HAUTE, IND. ? The Indiana State University volleyball team will have to keep searching for that first Missouri Valley Conference victory of the season after falling 1-4 to the visiting Bradley Braves Saturday night in the ISU Arena.

The Sycamores won the opening game of the match 30-24 but could not keep that momentum going. Bradley took the next three games (30-16, 30-26, 30-25) to earn their first victory in the MVC this season.

Indiana State has now lost eight straight matches in falling to 3-12 overall. They remain winless in the conference at 0-8. The Sycamores have another chance to get that first conference victory next week when they host Illinois State next Saturday. That match will be played in the Hulman Center with the first serve scheduled for 7 p.m.

There were four ties and two lead changes in the opening game of the match Saturday but the Sycamores were able to take control midway through the contest and held on for the 30-24 win. Bradley dominated the second game, leading from start to finish in posting a 30-16 victory.

The third game was close throughout with 11 ties and eight lead changes. Indiana State held a 20-19 advantage late in the match but Bradley rallied with three straight points to take a 22-20 lead. The Sycamores would close to within one at 23-22 but could not regain the lead as the Braves held on for the 30-26 win.

The fourth game had six ties and three lead changes. The Sycamores were up 11-10 but Bradley rallied with three straight points to give the Braves the lead. Indiana State would stay close until late in the match when Bradley scored six straight points to take command. The Braves would go on to win the game 30-25 and the match 4-1.

Jodi Stoker had 12 kills for the Sycamores while Alisha Polite had 31 assists and Kristy Cox 28 digs.