EDWARDSVILLE, Ill., – Sophomore outside hitter Bree Spangler notched double-digit kills, but ISU Volleyball couldn't escape the Cougar Classic unscathed as it fell to host SIU-Edwardsville, 3-1 (17-25, 15-25, 25-18, 21-25), on Sunday afternoon. ISU falls to 8-3 overall on the season with conference play starting next weekend.
Spangler recorded 13 kills while sophomore middle blocker Melody Burdette and junior middle blocker Cassandra Willis each adding 10 kills apiece.
The Sycamores were hindered by attack errors in the match, hitting just .142 with 26 total attack errors. ISU was also out dug by SIUE, 81-73 and posted just two blocks to the Cougars' six.
“We will need to wipe the slate clean moving forward with our big conference openers next weekend,” ISU head coach Traci Dahl-Skinner said. “The bright side is that we found some things that need to be worked on and we will have a week of practice before heading out to Missouri State and Wichita State.”
Freshman libero Stephanie Bindernagel led the back row with 18 digs and two service aces along with junior setter Erika Nord's 16. Nord also distributed 38 assists in the match. Sophomore defensive specialist Shannon Murphy also had 10 digs while junior defensive specialist Taylor Reckards added two service aces.
The Cougars came out firing in set one, opening up the match 5-2 before a timeout by ISU. The Sycamores came within one on a Spangler kill to make it 7-8, but the Cougars would go on an 8-1 run to blow the set open. SIUE would go on to win set one, holding ISU to a .125 hitting percentage.
Set two was more of the same for the Cougars who took the win, 25-15. ISU kept it close in the early part of the frame, making it 4-4 on a kill by Nord.
Leading 9-6, ISU couldn't hold onto the lead as it gave up eight straight points including four consecutive kills by the opposition. SIUE finished off the set on a 7-2 run and closed it on a pair of service aces, winning 25-15.
Willis started things off in set two for the Sycamores with a kill that set the tone. ISU's seven-point run after an 8-8 tie featured kills from Burdette and Nalls while taking advantage of three Cougar errors.
SIUE would fight until the final point, going on a 5-0 run with ISU at set point. Spangler finally ended the set for ISU with a kill to force a fourth set.
Battling back-and-forth in set four, which featured seven ties and five lead changes, ISU and SIUE were locked at 21-21. SIUE rattled off the final four points of the match that included three attacking errors by ISU.
ISU continues its road swing as it begins Missouri Valley Conference action at Missouri State on Friday and continues at Wichita State on Saturday.
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.
