TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State volleyball team needed five sets but it picked up its second-straight win and first over Southern Illinois since 2011 on Saturday evening at ISU Arena. The Sycamores defeated the Salukis, 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-10) and improve to 10-5 overall on the season and 2-2 in Missouri Valley Conference action.
Sophomore outside hitter Bree Spangler turned in another stellar performance with her seventh double-double of the season on 19 kills and 13 digs. Junior setter Erika Nord also recorded a double-double, , a team-high eighth this season, with a season-high 60 assists and 18 digs to go along with three service aces.
As a team, Indiana State hit .205, backed by senior middle blocker Kyla Thomas' .455 hitting percentage (10-0-22). Thomas also led ISU with five blocks, including three solo, as it complied nine total on the night. Junior middle blocker Cassandra Willis also jolted the ISU attack, recording 17 kills (17-3-37, .378).
In the back row, four Sycamores recorded double-digit dig efforts, led by freshman libero Danielle Waedekin. Sophomore defensive specialist Shannon Murphy also added 12 to go along with Nord's 18 and Spangler's 12. Murphy also tied Nord for a team-high three service aces.
The Sycamores outlasted SIU in set one, thanks in part to eight kills from Spangler. All knotted up at 18-18, kills by Willis and Spangler helped ISU to a 23-19 advantage.
Spangler helped close the set with another two attacks combined with an SIU error on set point to win 25-22.
The Salukis (7-8, 1-2 MVC) posted its best offensive output in set two, recording a .303 hitting percentage to win 25-23. SIU also held ISU to its lowest attacking percentage on the night, as it hit just .188.
Coming out of the break, the two teams played a tight third set exchanging leads seven times and forcing 11 ties. With the score tied 17-17, a Thomas kill sparked an ISU lead they never relinquished.
Three kills from Willis and one by freshman outside hitter Sarah Peterson helped the Sycamores take a 23-18 lead. Peterson would get Indiana State to set point while an SIU attack error gave it a 25-20 win in set three.
The fourth set proved to be another tight contest, as Murphy helped get ISU back to a 10-10 tie with back-to-back service aces. But the Salukis didn't make it easy, forcing ties at 14-14, 15-15 and 16-16. A kill by Spangler and ace by Nord helped push the lead to two but the two teams remained close throughout the set.
Tied at 22-22, three straight attack errors by Indiana State helped SIU capitalize to go on and win the fourth set 25-23.
In a decisive set five, ISU was able to reach 10 points first on a kill by Peterson. A bad set by Willis would get SIU within two, 10-12, but a service run by Bindernagel accompanied by kills from sophomore middle blocker Kynedi Nalls and Willis helped put the set away, 15-10.
Indiana State resumes conference play at home Friday against travel partner Illinois State. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. at ISU Arena.
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.
