Indiana State fell to 10-10 overall and 2-7 in the MVC with the setback while Illinois State improved to 13-8 on the season and 5-4 in the Valley. The Sycamores will be off until Oct. 21 when they visit the Bradley Braves to open up the second half of the season. Indiana State will also visit Northern Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 22.

The loss came despite the efforts of senior Stacy Qualizza and freshman Samantha Kersting. Qualizza paced the Sycamore attack with 16 kills in 28 attempts with just one error for a .536 hitting percentage while Kersting had a career high 11 kills in 18 attempts with just one error for a .556 hitting percentage.

Sophomore Monique Morris recorded her sixth double-double of the season had 10 kills and 17 digs while senior Shelbi Fouty posted her seventh double-double with 35 assists and 13 digs. Senior Kiya James led the defense with 22 digs while Qualizza also had three blocks on the night.

Indiana State rallied from a 7-4 deficit early in the opening set, taking advantage of a Qualizza kill and a service ace by sophomore Molly Murphy during a 5-0 Sycamore run that put ISU 9-7. The Sycamores never trailed after that and had their largest lead at 20-10 after three Morris kills, one from junior Shea Doran and one from Kersting. Qualizza sealed the 25-16 opening set win with a kill of a Fouty set.

The Sycamores led early in the second set but could not stay in front as Illinois State used a 6-0 run to take the lead for good a 9-5. Indiana State came back on a kill by Qualizza and a block by Fouty and Qualizza but ISU would not be able to draw even with the Redbirds. Indiana State staged a late rally and trailed 22-21 after a Kersting kill and an Illinois State error but the Redbirds scored the final three points of the set to take the 25-21 win.

Indiana Steve never led in the third set but they were always within striking distance of the Redbirds. The Sycamores trailed by as many as three on several occasions during the set but kept coming back and trailed 23-22 after a service ace by sophomore Loni Mackinson. The teams traded points before the Redbirds were able to post a 25-23 win and take a 2-1 set lead in the game.

The Sycamores dug themselves into a big hole early in the fourth set as Illinois State scored the first five points and went on to take their biggest lead at 10-2 after an Indiana State error. The Sycamores fought back, however, and got to within one at 18-17 on three straights kills by Qualizza, Mackinson, and Morris. Each time Illinois State would try to pull away from the Sycamores, ISU would come back with Indiana State trailing 24-23 after a Murphy kill. The Redbirds were able to score the final point of the set for a 25-23 win and take the game three sets to one.