KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. ? The Indiana State volleyball team had to battle back all evening but in the end it paid off with a 3-2 victory over the visiting Bradley Braves in a Missouri Valley Conference contest Friday in the ISU Arena.
It was the first Valley win for Indiana State in nearly two years, the last one also coming on the home court during the 2006 season when ISU defeated Drake 3-1. The victory was the first over the Braves in four years and stops a 33 match Valley losing streak.
Bradley won the first set 25-18 as the Sycamores never led but did tie the set up twice in the early going. The Braves pulled away to a 20-12 lead midway through the match but had to hold off a furious Indiana State rally before pulling out the win.
The second set had the Sycamores on top throughout the set but never by very much. Indiana State had a 14-10 lead midway through the set but Bradley came back to tie the score at 15 and actually go in front 16-15. The Sycamores did not fold, tying the set at 16 and then retaking the lead for good on a Kristy Cox service ace. Indiana State never looked back in evening the match at 1-set each.
The Sycamores had hopes of taking control of the match in the third set, jumping out to a 3-1 lead early in the set. Bradley stayed close and the two sides traded points through the midpoint of the set. The Braves broke the final tie of the set (19-all) with three straight points and held on to win 25-21.
Indiana State has been in this position before this season and never backed down. Trailing 14-10 in the fourth set, the Sycamores rallied, tying the set up at 18 on a kill by Stephanie Meier. Indiana State took the lead off a Bradley error and went up 20-18 on a Stephanie Volden block. Bradley came back to tie the set at 23 but a Stacy Qualizza kill regained the lead for Indiana State and the Sycamores hung on for a 25-23 victory.
The fifth set appeared to be dominated by the Braves as they built a 10-7 lead. But kills by Jodi Stoker, Volden and Meier brought the Sycamores back. Back-to-back kills by Meier tied the score at 14 but Bradley regained the advantage on an Emily Austin kill. Meier answered again for the Sycamores as the set was tied at 15.
The Sycamores the lead for good on a Kiya James service ace and then Stoker sealed the victory with a kill off a set by Shelbi Fouty.
Stacy Qualizza had 15 kills for the Sycamores, Stephanie Meier 13, Stephanie Volden 10 and Jodi Stoker nine. Whitney Fromm had 52 set assists and Kristy Cox 22 digs.
Indiana State is on a two-game winning streak in improving to 6-8 overall and 1-2 in the Valley. The Sycamores will host Northern Iowa at 7 p.m. Saturday in the ISU Arena.
