TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State posted four attackers and four players in the back row in double digits to help guide it to a four set win over Evansville (24-26, 25-12, 25-22, 25-11) on Homecoming Saturday inside ISU Arena.
Three Sycamores led the attackwith 12 kills - redshirt senior Carly Wishlow, junior Kynedi Nalls and sophomore Sarah Peterson. Senior setter Erika Nord and sophomore libero Stephanie Bindernagel shared the lead in digs with 14 each as Nord notched her 10th season double-double with 48 assists. Wishlow also led ISU on the block with six (one solo, five assisted) and senior middle blocker Cassandra Willis led with a .667 hitting percentage (10-0-15), a new career-high.
Both teams hit above .300 in the first set but Evansville needed an extra point to win the frame 26-24. In the second, the Sycamores took control by hitting .483 in the frame as Peterson knocked in five kills. ISU opened the set and took a commanding 8-4 lead and weren't to be caught as it won 25-12.
After the break, ISU picked up its blocking efforts as it tallied 10 of its 11.0 total in the match in the final two sets. The Purple Aces threatened in the third when it rallied from down six to tie things up at 21-21. Following a Sycamore timeout, Peterson hit one home and Wishlow added another to move it to set point as Nalls slammed the victory point home to win 25-22.
A negative hitting percentage by UE was no match for the hard hitting Sycamores who again posted a .481 on four kills each from Nalls and senior middle blocker Cassandra Willis to win the set 25-11 and the match.
COACH'S CORNER
“It was such an improvement for us to have four players in double digit kills (after Friday night's loss) and have them also in high hitting percentages,” Indiana State head coach Traci Dahl-Skinner said. “We needed this win to stay in the hunt of making the conference tournament and the team knew the importance of tonight's win. I thought our defense was good and having double digit digs with four players as well. Evansville is a good team who has caused havoc with a lot of this league. Our blocks improved through the match and it's something we talked about at the break. They responded and they got better at getting those block touches.”
GAME CHANGER
Indiana State rebounded from a not-so-great blocking night on Friday to accumulate 11.0 stuffs in the win over the Purple Aces. What was just as impressive is that ISU tallied 10 of 11 blocks in the match in the final two sets.
A MINUTE WITH NALLS
Indiana State junior right side Kynedi Nalls talked about tonight's win. Watch the video below to hear what she had to say.
SYCAMORE LEADERS
Kills – Peterson/Nall/Wishlow (12)
Digs – Bindernagel/Nord (14)
Assists – Erika Nord (43)
Hitting Percentage – Cassandra Willis (10-0-15 .667)
Aces – Murphy/Nord/Wishlow (2)
Blocks – Carly Wishlow (6)
RECORDS
Indiana State: 14-9, 3-5 MVC
Evansville: 7-15, 1-7 MVC
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
.387 – Team hitting percentage for the Sycamores was .387
.667 – Senior middle blocker Cassandra Willis set a new team single game high with her .667 hitting clip and on 10 kills and no errors. It also ties for the third-best single game hitting percentage in a match in school history with Stacy Qualizza who hit .667 on Oct. 10, 2009 vs. Bradley.
4 – Indiana State had four players each in double digit kills and double digit digs.
10 – The Sycamores' defense recorded 10 of its 11 blocks after the set two break
10 – Erika Nord had her 10th season double-double with 48 assists and 14 digs
UP NEXT
Indiana State continues its two week long homestand as it welcomes Illinois State on Tuesday at 7 p.m. for midweek action. It will be Faculty/Staff night at the match as all Indiana State staff and faculty will receive free admission by presenting their valid university ID. The match will also be streamed live on The Valley on ESPN3.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Volleyball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
