CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Sophomore outside hitter Bree Spangler posted her 22nd double-digit kill performance of the night despite Indiana State Volleyball falling to Northern Iowa, 3-1 (20-25, 12-25, 27-25, 20-25), on Friday night in McLeod Center.
Spangler recorded 13 kills on the night as Indiana State moved to 17-10 and 9-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Senior middle blocker Kyla Thomas added eight kills of her own on a .365 hitting percentage. Freshman defensive specialist Stephanie Bindernagel posted a team-high 13 digs along with Danielle Waedekin's 11 and combined for all four of the team's service aces.
The Sycamores hit just .160 in the match, posting percentages no higher than .233 in any set. In addition, ISU combined for six kills including three each from Thomas and Nord
In the opening set, ISU stuck with the Panthers, trailing by just two, 10-12, after a UNI hitting error.
ISU tied the score 15-15 on a kill by junior middle blocker Cassandra Willis but three straight points from the second place team in the MVC gave it a 19-16 lead. A kill from Spangler yet again cut the lead down to one but UNI scored three straight points late in the match for the 25-20 victory.
Unable to overcome a .056 clip in the second set, Northern Iowa powered its way past ISU, 25-12. The Panthers in turn added a .424 hitting percentage in the frame to go along with 18 kills.
Backed by five of Thomas' eight kills, ISU took a 27-25 win in set three. Tied up a 16-16, a kill from Willis and another by sophomore middle blocker Melody Burdette helped ISU take a one point lead. Increasing its lead to 20-17, the Panthers' clawed its way back to tie things up at 24-24.
The Sycamores used kills from Willis and freshman outside hitter Sarah Peterson who's slam sealed the victory.
However, it was all UNI down the stretch as it posted 25-17 set four win. ISU was able to keep it close, trailing by just two, 9-11, on a Thomas kill. But that's was as close as they would come in the set, as the Panthers closed the match on four-straight points and avenging the earlier season loss to ISU in Terre Haute.
Middle blockers Kynedi Nalls and Cassandra Willis each added eight kills for ISU while junior Erika Nord dished out 40 assists and added nine digs.
Indiana State continues on to Drake for an 8 p.m. ET match on Saturday in Knapp Center.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Volleyball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
