TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State volleyball team kept it close but couldn't edge the Missouri Valley Conference leader Illinois State as it fell 3-0 (24-26, 25-27, 19-25) at ISU Arena Friday night. Indiana State falls to 10-6 overall on the season and 2-3 in conference play.
“We were able to go point-for-point in all three sets with the team leading our conference right now,” Indiana State head coach Traci Dahl-Skinner said. “I felt it was our little mistakes that cost us the match, and we have to be better in a few areas. We will have a whole week to work on it before we head to Loyola and Bradley next weekend.”
The Sycamores were led by sophomore duo Bree Spangler and Kynedi Nalls who each recorded 10 kills. Freshman outside hitter Sarah Peterson notched a career-high seven kills on a .400 hitting percentage for the evening.
Freshmen defensive specialist Danielle Waedekin and Stephanie Bindernagel along with sophomore Shannon Murphy all had a team-high seven digs. Bindernagel along with junior defensive specialist Taylor Reckards each had two service aces.
ISU hit .257, but allowed the Redbirds to compile a just a .297 hitting percentage. Indiana State's recorded six team blocks on the night compared to Illinois State's three. The home team also posted 44 team kills and combined for 35 digs.
The reigning MVC offensive player of the week Erika Nord dished helped dish out 39 of Indiana State's 42 assists, besting Illinois State's 38 assists on the evening. Nord also collected six digs and put down three kills in the match.
Senior middle blocker Kyla Thomas led with two solo blocks to go along with five kills while junior middle blocker Cassandra Willis also had six kills.
In set one, Indiana State held an eight point lead, 18-12, after a ball handling error by Illinois State setter Kaitlyn Early. Kills from sophomore middle blocker Melody Burdette and Nalls extended the lead back to six, 20-14, but a six point run by the Redbirds tied things up at 20-20.
Battling back and forth, Indiana State got to set point first on a kill by Spangler. Illinois State tied it up with a kill of its own and finished the set off on an Indiana State attack error for the 26-24 win.
It was another tight set in the second frame despite the Sycamores falling behind 7-11 early on. The set featured 12 ties and four lead changes as Peterson preserved the set with a kill to tie it up, 24-24. But a bad dish by Bindernagel and Illinois State service ace capped off another close set in the visitor's favor, 27-25.
Peterson posted a set-high five kills in the second set, as Indiana State held its opponent to a .194 hitting percentage.
In set three, a Nalls kill from tied everything up at 14-14 as Illinois State recorded back-to-back kills for the largest lead of the set at 16-14.
A Redbird attack error brought the match back within one for Indiana State, but two aces from Stacey Niao helped push the lead to 23-18. Illinois State was able to close off the set on a kill by Jaelyn Keen and a Sycamore attack error.
Indiana State resumes action next weekend when it hits the road to face Loyola and Bradley on Oct. 10 and 11.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Volleyball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
