TERRE HAUTE, IND. - The Sycamores let the second set slip away from them but were determined to avoid a repeat of Friday night and won the final two sets of the game to defeat the Evansville Purple Aces 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 25-11) in a Missouri Valley Conference contest played in the ISU Arena on Saturday.
Sophomore Monique Morris led the way for Indiana State with 19 kills while senior Stacy Qualizza added 17 and sophomore Molly Murphy 10. Senior Shelby Fouty had 39 assists while Morris also recorded a game high 21 digs to pace the defense. Freshman Samantha Kersting had four solo blocks.
Indiana State led throughout the opening set, breaking a 3-all tie on kills by Morris and Qualizza to take the lead for good. The Sycamores never trailed after that although Evansville kept the set close with ISU's biggest lead coming at 21-16 on a kill by junior Shea Doran. The Purple Aces pulled within three twice but Indiana State was able to regain control and post the 25-19 win.
The Sycamores jumped out to a 6-2 lead early in the second set but could not hold onto the momentum. Evansville rallied to tie the set at 10 and scored twice more to take the lead for good at 12-10. A kill by Morris cut the deficit back to one but that was as close as ISU would get the rest of the set as Evansville pulled out a 25-21 win to even the sets at one each.
Unlike the night before, the Sycamores did not let early leads in the next two sets to disappear. Indiana State jumped out in front early in the third set and opened up a 13-4 lead. Evansville came back late in the set and trailed by one at 24-23 after a kill by Ellen Sawin. However, a service error by the Purple Aces the point ISU needed for the 25-23 win and a 2-1 set lead in the game.
Indiana State took control of the fourth set after trailing 3-1 early, capitalizing on four Qualizza kills and two by Murphy to take the lead for good a 9-5. The Sycamore defense kept the ball in play and the offense was dominate the rest of the set as Indiana State cruised to a 25-11 win and a 3-1 victory in the game.
Senior Kiya James had 16 digs, sophomore Loni Mackinson 15, and Murphy 10 for Indiana State int eh game.
Indiana State improved to 10-9 overall and 2-6 in the Valley with the victory. The Sycamores will close out the first half on Thursday when they play at Illinois State in an 8 p.m. (ET) contest. The Redbirds defeated Southern Illinois Saturday 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-19, 25-23) to improve to 11-8 overall and 3-4 in the Valley. Evansville fell to 11-11 on the season and 1-6 in the Valley with the loss to Indiana State.
