EDWARDSVILLE, Ill., – Marking its third sweep of the season, the Indiana State volleyball team blanked Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-15), on Saturday afternoon at the SIUE Cougar Classic. ISU improved its overall record to 8-2 on the season while UAPB fell to 1-8.
Junior middle blocker Cassandra Willis recorded 11 kills while hitting .588 on the afternoon to go along with three blocks. Senior middle blocker Kyla Thomas added nine kills on a .500 hitting percentage and sophomore outside hitter Melody Burdette chipped in nine kills of her own.
The back row featured three players in double-digit digs with freshman libero Stephanie Bindernagel tying a game-high 13 digs with junior setter Erika Nord notching 12 and sophomore outside hitter Bree Spangler adding 12. Spangler also added eight kills and Nord also dished out 38 assists in the quick three set match.
As a team, the Sycamores hit .287 and out-dug the Golden Lions, 55-49. They posted four blocks and eight service aces including five from Bindernagel.
ISU came out slow in set one as the Golden Lions took an early 6-1 lead. A kill by UAPB's Ashlie Jones made it a six-point differential, 6-12. But the Sycamores battled back, taking advantage of an attack error by UAPB to tie the game up at 12-12.
Nalls broke a 17-17 tie with a kill and a Murphy service ace along with a Burdette kill helped ISU take a 20-17 lead.
Willis' tip to the back row and a set error brought ISU closer to set point, 23-19. Back-to-back kills from Thomas and Spangler sealed the 25-20 set one victory.
In set two, the Sycamores got early kills from Thomas and Willis to take a 6-2 lead. The set was opened up by ISU with a four-point run which included Burdette, Willis and Nord. The Golden Lions hit just .114 in the second set, posting just eight kills.
It got help from UAPB in the final points of the set, as a service error and attack error set Indiana State up for set point. A big kill by Burdette sealed with set win.
ISU cruised in set three, taking a quick 9-3 lead after a kill from junior outside hitter Victoria Swigart. The Sycamores closed the match with a 6-2 run, complete with kills from Nord, Spangler and Swigart.
The Sycamores wrap up action at the Cougar Classic on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET as it faces the host Cougars at the Vadalabene Center.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Volleyball team, make sure to check outGoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
