KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
ARKON, OHIO ? The Indiana State volleyball team broke a two-game skid and opened play in the Akron Invitational with a 3-1 (25-14, 25-15, 19-25, 25-19) victory over the St. Francis Red Flash Friday morning.
The Sycamores improved to 6-3 with the victory, the first time in 14 years that an Indiana State volleyball team has posted six wins in their first nine games. The 1986, 1995, and 1996 teams also recorded six wins in their first nine games while the 1989 team had seven wins and the 1982 team eight wins.
Sophomore Morgan Dall had her fifth double-double of the season as led the Sycamore offense with 17 kills and also contributed with 12 digs. Junior Stacy Qualizza had a season high 12 kills while freshman Loni Mackinson had 35 assists and Kiya James had 20 digs.
Indiana State took control midway through the first set, breaking a 7-all tie on a Qualizza kill off a Mackinson set. The Sycamores used a 10-3 run to take complete control and cruised to the 25-14 win. The second set was much the same as ISU used a 6-0 run midway through the set to break a 9-all tie and take control of the momentum enroute to a 25-15 win.
The third set was a reversal of the first two as St. Francis was able to take control midway through the third set and had the Sycamores a 19-25 setback. Indiana State regained that momentum in a big way at the start of the fourth set, scoring the first seven points. St. Francis did fight back to cut the deficit to three late in the set but the Sycamores were able to hold on to win the set 25-19 and the game 3-1.
Indiana State will be back in action tonight as they meet the Akron Zips at 7 p.m. (ET). The Sycamores round out the tournament against Appalachian State at 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday. Akron plays Appalachian State at 2 p.m. (ET) today with the Mountaineers returning to take on St. Francis at 5 p.m. (ET). Akron and St. Francis play the opening game on Saturday at 11 a.m. (ET).
Live stats from the Akron Invitational are available at: http://www.gozips.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?SPSID=47191&SPID=4337&DB_OEM_ID=10800&KEY=
