KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. ? The Indiana State volleyball team is still searching for that winning combination, dropping another Missouri Valley Conference contest Saturday night in the ISU Arena as the visiting Evansville Purple Aces posted a 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-20) victory.
Indiana State has lost seven straight games and five straight in the Valley as they fell to 6-21 on the season and 2-11 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Evansville improved to 13-12 overall and 6-7 in the Missouri Valley.
Senior Jodilynne Stoker led the Sycamores with 10 kills while fellow senior Kristen Kerscher knocked down eight, sophomore Stacy Qualizza seven, and freshman Morgan Dall had six. Senior Whitney Fromm contributed with another double-double with 22 assists and 11 digs. The defense was led by Kiya James who topped the 20-dig plateau for the eighth time this season with 23 digs against the Purple Aces.
The Sycamores opened the first set with a Kerscher kill but then lost the lead on two straight Evansville points. Indiana State was not able to get back in front although they stayed within striking distance until late in the set. A three point rally by ISU tied the set at 16 but the Sycamores could not nudge their way in front. The Purple Aces regained control and outscored ISU 9-3 down the stretch for a 25-19 win.
Indiana State looked like they were on their way to evening the game at a set each early in the second set, scoring the first five points and then moving out to their biggest lead at 9-2. Evansville rallied with five straight points and eventually tied the set at 10. The two teams traded points until the Purple Aces ran off nine straight points to break away from a 13-all tie and build a 22-13 advantage. Evansville held on to win the second set 25-17.
The Sycamores never had the lead in the third set but did tie the set up twice in the early going. A four point Evansville run broke a 3-all tie before the Sycamores rallied with three straight to trial by one 7-6. The Purple Aces kept momentum on their side the rest of the set although the Sycamores did deny Evansville game point four times before dropping the final set 25-20.
Indiana State will look to end their current losing skid on the road next weekend as they visit Bradley on Friday and Northern Iowa on Saturday.
