SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – There was no lack of drama in the Indiana State volleyball MVC season opener as it took Missouri State to five sets before falling, 2-3 (25-21, 16-25, 19-25, 25-22, 4-15). The Sycamores move to 8-4 overall on the season and 0-1 in the MVC.
The match marked the third straight meeting between the schools that has gone to a decisive fifth set. The Sycamores and Bears (7-5, 1-0 MVC) went down to the wire in both contest in 2013. As a team, ISU hit just .211 (50-19-147) and were out dug (71-59) and out blocked (7.0-4.0).
Sophomore outside hitter Bree Spangler led with a season-high 18 kills while senior middle blocker Kyla Thomas added 11 kills as she hit .500 in the match while also notching two blocks. Freshman libero Stephanie Bindernagel recorded a match-high 22 digs and three services aces in the loss.
The Sycamores took set one, 25-21, backed by its one of its best single set performances of the season. ISU hit .444 in the opening frame, accompanied by Thomas' four kills and Bindernagel's seven digs.
A Spangler tip gave ISU a 11-8 lead to open the match, forcing a MSU timeout.
MSU tied it up 12-12 on a service ace out of the timeout and kept the match close. However, back-to-back service aces from Nord gave ISU a 21-18 advantage. ISU needed a timeout as MSU scored two points on set point but ISU sealed the deal with a Thomas kill.
At set point (24-19), ISU need a timeout to quiet the MSU attack before Spangler sent one to the floor for the victory.
Indiana State fell behind 3-10 in set two before a back row attack by MSU cut the run.
Kills from Nord, Spangler and Thomas coupled with a pair of attack errors by the Bears sparked an ISU run of its own and cutting the lead to 10-12. ISU would get within two on a Wishlow kill, but MSU would close the set on another 10-3 run, tying it up at 1-1 going into the break.
The two teams played a tight third set as it came down the final six points. Tied at 19-19, the Bears scored six straight points to close the third with a 25-19 win.
Set four started the same way as set three with a Bears' 10-3 run. ISU chipped away on a service run by Bindernagel who got help from Willis and Wishlow along with two service aces to cut the deficit to 9-11.
MSU kept the Sycamores at bay before an attack error brought the match to an 18-18 tie. A pair of Willis kills helped ISU to set point before Spangler slammed it home to force the decisive set five.
But it was all Missouri State in the final set, blowing by ISU 15-4. The Sycamores hit just .111 with just three kills in the set.
The Sycamores continue on to Wichita State on Saturday for an 8 p.m. ET match. Live video will be available through GoShockers.com.
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.
