Indiana State improved to 11-13 on the season and 3-10 in the Valley, still just two games back of Drake who is currently sixth in the Valley with a 9-18 overall record and 5-8 mark in league play. The Sycamores will play their final two road games of the Valley regular season next weekend as they visit Evansville on Friday and then visit Southern Illinois Saturday.

The Sycamores received a big effort from their top three hitters as junior Morgan Dall recorded 18 kills, senior Stacey Qualizza 17, and sophomore Monique Morris 16. Senior Shelbi Fouty recorded 49 assists while senior Kiya James had 25 digs. Junior Shea Doran and Qualizza had two blocks each.

Indiana State dominated play early in the opening set as ISU opened up an early lead. Drake came back to knot the score at 16 but didn't move in front until Erin Roggenburg recorded a kill to put the Bulldogs up 19-18. The Sycamores had to fight from behind and moved back in front 23-22 on a Morris service ace.

The set was again tied five move times but the Sycamores were able to respond to each Bulldog rally to maintain the advantage. Indiana State was finally able to post the set win on two straight Qualizza kills for a 29-27 win.

The Sycamores scored the first point of the second set but could not keep the advantage as Drake rallied to move out in front 7-4. Indiana State rallied with four straight points to go up 8-7 but again the Sycamores could not hold onto the lead. Drake came back with four straight of their own and were able to hold off several Sycamore rallies down the stretch to even the game at one set each with a 25-20 win.

It was all Indiana State after the intermission but the third set was still close early on. The Sycamores were able to break away from a 12-all tie with 10 straight points on the serving of sophomore Loni Mackinson and three kills by Qualizza, two by Morris, and one by Fouty. After taking a 22-12 lead, ISU allowed Drake just one point the rest of the set to take the win 25-13.

Mackinson again served the Sycamores to a big lead early in the fourth set as the Sycamores raced out to a 7-0 lead. Drake fought back with a 7-1 run to trail 8-7 but that was as close as the Bulldogs would come. Indiana State regained control of the set and opened up a 19-10 lead but still had to hold off the Bulldogs late in the set to win 25-17 and take the game three sets to one.

Fouty recorded her 1,600 career assist in the game and now has 1,646 which ranks eighth on the ISU all-time list.

The win was Indiana State's first over Drake since 2009 when the Sycamores posted a 3-0 win on the home court over the Bulldogs. It was also the 13th win in 25 games with the Bulldogs played on the ISU court.

In other conference action Saturday, 12th ranked Northern Iowa posted a 3-0 over the Shockers at Wichita State, Missouri State won at home over Bradley 3-0, and Creighton rallied to win at Illinois State 3-2.

Drake still holds down the sixth spot with their 5-8 league record with Evansville and Southern Illinois both 3-9 and Indiana State 3-10.