CHARLESTON, IL ? The Indiana State Sycamore volleyball team battled the host Eastern Illinois Panthers in the final match of the first day of the EIU Pepsi Challenge Friday, falling in four games to the Panthers.

Indiana State falls to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the Pepsi Challenge with the loss. The Sycamores will square off against Memphis at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in their final match of the tournament. Eastern Illinois is 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Challenge.

Eastern Illinois won the first two games 30-23 and 30-17 but the Sycamores found themselves in the game and posted a hard fought 30-26 victory. Indiana State had trailed through most of the third game but tied the game at 18 on a kill by Jodilynne Stoker. The Sycamores did not get their first lead until 25-24 on an EIU error. Two kills by Sarah Agnich gave ISU a 27-24 advantage. Two more kills by Stoker and one from Alisha Polite gave the Sycamores the victory.

Indiana State continued that momentum early in the fourth game but could not keep up the effort. The Panthers broke away from a 3-all tie in the fourth game and outscored Indiana State 14-3 to build a 17-7 advantage.The Sycamores would not get any closer the rest of the way.

Freshman Katie Dilling had nine kills for Indiana State while junior Stephanie Meier had seven kills and 13 digs. Junior Alisha Polite had 31 assists and 11 digs in the match. Junior Kristy Cox had 14 digs.

Indiana State will host Chicago State on Tuesday in a match that will be played in the Hulman Center starting at 7 p.m. Live stats and live video can be accessed through www.gosycamores.com

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