KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
PEORIA, ILL. ? Indiana State senior defensive specialist Kristy Cox became the All-Time leader in digs but the record setting performance was offset by a 3-1 Sycamore loss to the Bradley Braves in Peoria, Ill., Saturday night.
Cox entered the match Saturday needing just six digs to become the all-time dig leader at Indiana State. She accomplished that feat in the first set with eight digs and finished with 16 for the match, giving her a career total of 1,724. She surpassed Cheryl Berg, who played at Indiana State from 1998-2001 and had 1,713 digs.
The Sycamores had the momentum early in the match, taking the first set 25-14 with a 9-1 run late in the set. Jodilynn Stoker and Sarah Agnich had five kills each and Kristin Hunt four as Indiana State seemed to have control of the match.
In the second set, however, Bradley came up with a 25-18 victory to square the match at 1-all. Stephanie Meier had three of ISU's eight kills in the set but despite the lack of offense, Indiana State was still up 8-2 early in the set. The Braves rallied with a 10-1 run late in the set to come from behind and take the win.
Indiana State scored the first two points of the third set but Bradley quickly rallied and took the lead at 3-2, using a 5-0 run to go up 8-2. The Sycamores could not get a rally going despite five kills from Stoker and three from Hunt, dropping the set 25-15.
Bradley never trailed in the fourth set as the Sycamores tried to claw their way back into the match. A kill by Stacy Qualizza brought Indiana State to within four at 14-10 but that would be as close as the Sycamores would get. The Braves dominated the rest of the way and earned their first Missouri Valley Conference win with a 25-17 victory in the fourth set.
Stoker finished with 15 kills in 40 attempts with two service aces, five digs and one block assist to lead the Sycamores. Hunt finished with eight kills and Agnich seven.
Junior setter Whitney Fromm had 43 set assists in the match and now has 1,840 for her career at Indiana State. She also had seven digs and two kills against Bradley.
The Sycamores fell to 8-16 overall and 2-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference with the loss. Indiana State will entertain 12th ranked Wichita State next Friday night and then host Missouri State on Saturday, both matches beginning at 7 p.m.
