Ace Hunt

GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State used a season-best 20 kills and 20 digs from senior Bree Spangler to propel themselves to a thrilling 3-1 victory in the MVC opener against Bradley inside the ISU Arena. Bradley won the first set 25-20 but ISU came roaring back with wins of 29-27, 25-21 and 28-26 to secure the victory.

The Sycamores improved to 6-5, 1-0 MVC while Bradley fell to 5-6, 0-1 MVC. It marked just the third MVC opening victory for Indiana State in 33 seasons of MVC/Gateway competition and just the second-ever at home. The Sycamores had played each of their first 10 matches of the season away from ISU Arena.

Spangler became the first Sycamore to record at least 20 kills and 20 digs in a match in recent memory. She posted her fifth double-double of the season and now has 1,031 kills during her career. Spangler was joined by a season-best 15 kills from Sarah Peterson as well as 12 kills from Kynedi Nalls and 10 by Melody Burdette. Posting third double-double of the season was Rachel Griffin who tied a career-high with 55 assists and added 10 digs. Shannon Murphy tallied 15 digs in the match.

Indiana State recorded 65 kills as a team and posted a .304 attack percentage while Bradley had 68 kills and a .310 percentage. Both teams posted four service aces, the Sycamores were paced by two from Cassie Kawa while Bradley held a slim 6-5 lead in total blocks. At the net, freshman Damadj Johnson tallied five blocks.

Bradley scored first in the first set, but Peterson had the first kill of the match for the Sycamores to tie the set at 2. With the set tied at 18, Bradley scored twice in a row before Peterson kill got the Sycamores within a point. Bradley countered with four points in a row until a service error gave Indiana State a brief window of opportunity. The Braves won the first set on a kill by Erica Haslag and the 25-20 victory.

The Sycamores trailed the second set 13-11 before a kill from Peterson leveled the score at 13. After Bradley went back out to a two-point lead, the Sycamores tied it again at 15 on a kill from Burdette. Bradley would extend its lead to 20-17, until a kills by Nalls knotted the match at 22 and forced a Braves timeout. ISU held off set point once by Bradley and gained the advantage at 28-27 on a kill by Spangler. Then Spangler finished off the set and tied the match at 1 with another kill.

Indiana State trailed the third set 7-4, but rattled off five points in a row off the serve of Kawa for the 8-7 lead, scoring two points in a row off Spangler kills. Peterson made it two points in a row for the Sycamores for the 15-11 advantage. Bradley would close to within 22-20, but Burdette scored the 23rd point and a Bradley error gave the Sycamores 24. Peterson ended it with a kill for the 25-21 victory in the third set.

The fourth set was a back-and-forth battle with ISU lead by as many as three points on several occasions. Up 18-15, Bradley would score four of the next five points to tie the set at 19 and actually took the lead at 20-19 on a kill from Haslag. Spangler stopped the bleeding with a kill to knot the set at 20 and the two teams went tit-for-tat. ISU finally took an advantage on a kill by Spangler for the 25-24 lead. But a service error kept the Braves alive before Nalls had a kill for the 27-26 lead. Peterson then finished it off with a kill for the 28-26 victory in the fourth set and a 3-1 win in the match.

Haslag led the Braves with 21 kills.

Indiana State returns to action on Saturday, September 17 as the Sycamores continue play in the ISU Classic. With a victory at 4 p.m. (ET) against Western Michigan, the Sycamores will make it three early season tournament victories to begin the campaign. Western Michigan will face Bradley in a neutral court matchup at 11:00 a.m.