TERRE HAUTE, IN ? Indiana State juniors Kristy Cox and Alisha Polite continued their climb up the all-time lists at Indiana State as the Sycamores concluded their 2007 with a 1-3 loss to the visiting Evansville Purple Aces Saturday in the ISU Arena.
"We have such a great group of girls," Julie Krofcheck, Indiana State volleyball coach said. "They were very determined tonight and showed just how far they have come this season.
"If we could not have forced a fifth game tonight, the battle the team put up in trying to win tonight was a good indication of the good things that lie ahead for this squad," Krofcheck added.
Cox moved into third place in the ISU all-time digs list, finishing the season with a career high 29 digs against Evansville, giving the Muncie, Ind., junior 1,284 career digs. She moves past Megan Mirs, who had 1,268 career digs from 1998-2001.
Polite moved into ninth place in the ISU all-time assist list, finishing the season with 41 assists against Evansville, giving the Valparaiso, Ind., junior 852 career assists. Polite moved past Christina Marx, who had 824 from 1999-2002. Polite had a career high 51 assists against Southern Illinois University on Sept. 15 this season.
It was a fierce battle inside the ISU Arena as the Sycamores were not ready to see their season end even after dropping the opening game 30-19. Indiana State trailed three times in the second game but came back each time to regain the advantage. A kill by Stephanie Volden broke a 28-all tie and then a block by Sarah Agnich gave the Sycamores a 30-28 win to even the match.
Indiana State trailed by as many as seven points in the third game but a late rally brought the Sycamores back. Trailing 29-21, Indiana State staged a rally that had Evansville on their heals, scoring six straight points. Unfortunately for the Sycamores, the Purple Aces were able to stop the rally and earn the 30-27 win.
The fourth game was nearly identical to the third game. The Sycamores trailed by as many as nine points midway through the match but fought their way back. Indiana State whittled the lead down to just three points, 26-29 on a kill by Stephanie Meier. However, Evansville was able to get the last point of the game and of the match.
Stephanie Meier and Kelli Whitaker had a double-double each for the Sycamores. Meier had 11 kills and 17 digs while Whitaker had 12 kills and 10 digs. Jodilynne Stoker also had 12 kills in the match.
