TERRE HAUTE, IND. - The Indiana State Sycamores started off well but could not get a set win against visiting Wichita State as the Shockers defeated ISU 3-0 (28-26, 25-18, 25-13) in front of 216 fans in the final regular season game in the ISU Arena.
The Sycamores will have another chance to play this season, however, as they advance to the 2011 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament for the first time since 2004. Complete details of the tournament will be announced later.
Indiana State finished the 2011 regular season with a 14-16 record overall and a 6-12 record in the Missouri Valley Conference. Wichita State improved to 19-9 overall and 13-5 in the Valley.
Junior Morgan Dall and sophomore Monique Morris led Indiana State with 14 kills each while senior Shelbi Fouty had 31 assists and senior Kiya James 14 digs.
The opening set was tied 14 times with eight lead changes as each team battled for position. Indiana State's biggest lead of the initial set came at 12-8 after a kill by Shea Doran. Wichita State came back and was up 20-17 after a kill by Camri Zwiesler. That's when things really started to get interesting.
ISU fought back to tie the set at 20 on a Morris kill and moved in front 21-20 on a Shocker error. The Sycamores kept the advantage despite the Shockers coming back to tie the set at 21, 22, 23 and again at 24. Wichita State took the lead on a Emily Adney kill but Dall tied the set at 25. A kill by WSU's Elizabeth Field was matched by one from Dall as the set was tied for the final time at 26. The final two points went to the Shockers as Wichita State held on for a 28-26 opening set win.
The second set was tied five times with just one lead change as Wichita State began to take control of the game. Indiana State did dominate early and held a 7-2 lead before a Shocker time out. Wichita State rallied to tie the set at eight and went up by two before ISU came back to knot the score for the final time at 10. The Shockers came back with three straight points to take the lead but Indiana State was able to rally and tie the set for the final time at 18 on a Morris kill. Wichita State scored the last five points of the set to take the win 25-18.
Wichita State controlled the final set as Indiana State was able to tie the score twice in the early going but could not get in front of the Shockers who took the third set 25-13 and won the game three sets to one.
