TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State and SIU Edwardsville battled in what may have been the best game of the tournament but the Sycamores could not prevail as they felt to the Cougars 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 17-25, 22-25) in the final game of the Drury Inn/ACISC Volleyball Challenge Sunday afternoon in the ISU Arena.
The Sycamores drop to 4-3 on the season and will be on the road to New Hampshire next weekend where they will meet New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Fairfield in a two-day tournament.
There were 11 ties and six lead changes in the opening set as each side fought to gain control of the action. SIUE maintained control through the middle of the set before the Sycamores forged in front 23-20 after two junior Morgan Dall kills. However, the Cougars rallied and scored the final five points of the set to take the opener 25-23.
The second set had five ties and five lead changes as the two sides continued to seek chinks in the others armor. The Sycamores broke a 21-all tie after two SIUE errors and a kill by sophomore Molly Murphy and went on to win the set 25-23 on a kill by sophomore Ashley Owen.
Indiana State had hoped to gain the momentum after splitting the first two sets but that was not to be in the third set. The Cougars took control early and never trailed to defeat ISU 25-17 and take a two sets to one lead. The fourth set was close early with three ties and two lead changes but Indiana State could not gain control over SIUE as the Cougars led by as many as five late before settling for a 25-22 victory.
Dall continues to lead the Sycamore offense as she knocked down 21 kills while senior Stacy Qualizza had 15 and Murphy added seven. Senior Shelbi Fouty had 44 assists with senior Kiya James adding 25 digs.
James was the only Sycamore named to the All-Tournament team. Western Illinois won the team title.
