TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State volleyball team recorded its fourth-consecutive win over Missouri Valley Conference foe Evansville as it posted a four set win (25-17, 22-25, 26-24, 25-15) on Friday evening. ISU notched its first conference win of the season, improving to 9-5 overall and 1-2 in the MVC.
Four Sycamores led the offensive attack with double-digit kills including 22 from sophomore outside hitter Bree Spangler who tied a career high. Spangler also turned in a career-high .606 hitting percentage on the night (22-3-33) along with eight digs and two blocks for a game-high 23.5 points. Her 22 kills were also the most for a Sycamore in a single game this season.
Sophomore middle blocker Melody Burdette also turned in a career performance, pulling down 15 kills in the victory. Senior middle blocker Kyla Thomas and junior middle blocker Cassandra Willis each recorded 10 kills, helping ISU post one of its best hitting percentages of the season with a .346.
In the back row, freshman defensive specialist Danielle Waedekin got her first career start at libero to lead the match and posting a season-high with 13 digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Shannon Murphy also turned a double-digit dig performance with 10 and tied a career-high four service aces. Junior setter Erika Nord tied a season-high 52 assists in the victory.
ISU led the evening in kills (63-50) while out-digging UE (43-28) and also led in blocks (8-5).
In set one, Indiana State pulled away from the Purple Aces (4-10, 0-2 MVC) on a combined four kills from Spangler and Thomas to take an early 11-5 lead. ISU got help on a pair of UE attack errors that extend its lead to 17-12, forcing a timeout.
ISU was able to close the set on a pair of kills by Spangler for the 25-17 victory. Set two was shaky for the Sycamores, who posted just a .188 hitting percentage along with six errors. After falling behind 9-14, ISU mounted a comeback in the set tying things up at 18-18 on a service ace by Nord.
The two teams battled back and forth as a Burdette kill made it 22-22. But Evansville would close the set on a 3-0 run and win 25-22 going into the break.
Playing a tight third set, the Sycamores and Purple Aces exchanged four lead changes and played to nine ties. Leading 12-8, Indiana State led their lead slip away in the set as it needed a timeout after a Miranda Genesis kill cut the lead to one.
ISU, however, got a kill from Burdette and service ace from Murphy to regain a three point lead. But the Purple Aces battled, tying things up at 17-17 on a kill from Ashley Ring. A UE service error and attack error along with a Spangler kill regained the three point lead.
At set point, ISU couldn't stop another Genesis kill. But an Evansville attack error and a combined block by Willis and Spangler sealed the 26-24 win.
In set four, ISU put the foot on cruise, posting one of its single-best set hitting percentages with a .533 for a 25-15 win. The Sycamores committed just two attack errors and combined for three blocks in the final set, backed by seven kills from Spangler.
Indiana State returns to the court on Saturday when it hosts SIU at 7 p.m. at ISU Arena. Anyone who presents an ISU football ticket from the afternoon game vs. Liberty will receive free admission.
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.
