By Tim McCaughan
GoSycamores.com
SETTING THE STAGE
On Tuesday, September 27, old rival Eastern Illinois visits ISU Arena at 7 p.m. (ET). The Panthers own a 28-15 lead in the all-time series, as well as a 14-7 lead in Terre Haute. This used to be a conference match under the Gateway Conference umbrella. The two teams renewed the rivalry last year after a three-year hiatus when the Sycamores took a 3-1 decision in Charleston, Ill. The Sycamores have won four of the last five meetings against EIU dating back to 2008.
SERIES HISTORY
All Time Series: EIU, 28-15
Last Meeting: 2015, W, 3-2 (Away)
Under Coach Dahl-Skinner: 4-2
THE HEAD COACH
Traci Dahl-Skinner
9th season (97-163)
SYCAMORES OPEN MVC PLAY WITH WIN OVER BRADLEY
Indiana State's MVC opener against Bradley was historic on several fronts. As the Sycamores opened their 33rd season of Missouri Valley Conference (formerly Gateway Conference) play, it marked just the third time the Sycamores have opened the league slate with a victory. It was just the second victory at home to open league play in 12 all-time attempts and was the first MVC opening victory for the program under ninth-year head coach Traci Dahl-Skinner. A big reason for the Sycamores' success was the play of Bree Spangler who became the first Indiana State player in recent memory to record at least 20 kills and digs in the same match.
SYCAMORES FINALLY AT HOME
After playing their first 10 matches of the season on the road or at another venue away from Terre Haute, the Sycamores finally opened play at home with a 3-1 victory over MVC foe Bradley on Friday, September 16. That match kicked off a season-long four-match home stand which continues this week against Loyola on September 24 and concludes next week against Eastern Illinois. Over the nine-year run of head coach Traci Dahl-Skinner the Sycamores have won 54 matches at home and own an impressive 28-17 (.622) mark at the ISU Arena over the last four seasons.
LAST TIME OUT
The Sycamores are coming off a tough 3-2 loss at the hands of MVC foe Loyola at the ISU Arena Saturday night. The Ramblers took the first set, 25-21 before Indiana State won two in a row by the scores of 26-24 and 25-23. The Ramblers came back though with a 25-19 win in the fourth set and then a 15-12 decision in the final frame. Kynedi Nalls led the Sycamores with 17 kills while Sarah Peterson had 16. Makenzie Macek chipped in with 11 kills while Melody Burdette had 10. Rachel Griffin assisted on 50 of the teams' kills while Shannon Murphy had a career-high 26 digs. Burdette also recorded eight blocks to lead the Sycamores.
TWO WINS IN TWO WEEKS
Indiana State picked up their second tournament victory in as many weeks as the Sycamores used victories over host Marshall and Morehead State to win the West Virginia Capital Classic. In the first week of the regular season, the Sycamores captured the Marriott Invitational, hosted by Samford. It is believed this is the first time in the history of the program that the Sycamore Volleyball program has won two tournaments away from ISU Arena in the same season. Under head coach Traci Dahl, the Sycamores have won at least one tournament in each of the last four years.
STAR SPANGLED BANNER
Indiana State senior Bree Spangler now has 1,043 kills for her career which stands in eighth place on the Sycamore career charts. She needs just four more to pass Stacy Stanton (1991-94) for seventh place. Additionally she has 945 career digs and is just 55 away from becoming the eighth member of the 1,000 Dig Club. She would also join Cheryl Berg, Stacy Stanton and Kylee Osborne as the only Sycamores to record at least 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs.
JOHNSON SOLID AT ISU CLASSIC
Indiana State freshman Damadj Johnson tallied 15 kills and owned a .258 attack percentage as the Sycamores split against Bradley and Western Michigan. She led the way at the net with nine total blocks. Johnson had eight kills and four blocks against Western Michigan after tallying seven kills and five blocks in the MVC opener against Bradley.
GRIFFIN NAMED MVP...TWICE
For the second time in as many weeks, junior Rachel Griffin earned tournament MVP honors. This time the honor came at the Capital Classic one week after taking a similar honor at the Marriott Invitational. Over the three game stretch, Griffin posted 119 assists, averaging 9.15 per set as the Sycamores used victories over Morehead State and host Marshall to win the tournament. Griffin added 23 digs, 6.5 total blocks and one service ace in securing the team tournament win. In the opener, the Sycamores battled Big 12 foe West Virginia close and Griffin tallied 49 assists with two kills, two blocks and one service ace. She and the Sycamores made quick work of Morehead State in the second game of the tournament as she had 27 assists, one kill, six digs and 1.5 blocks in the three set sweep. Indiana State played their second five set match of the tournament and with the victory over host Marshall secured the championship as Griffin posted 43 assists and 10 digs for the double-double. She added 3.0 total blocks in the victory.
DEFENSIVE SYCAMORES
The Sycamore defense continues to be strong and is a major reason for the program's 6-7 start to the season. ISU is fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference by limiting teams to just a .201 hitting percentage through the first 13 matches. The Sycamores are also second in the league in service aces averaging 1.34 per set. Both Cassie Kawa and Bree Spangler rank in the league's Top 10 for individual service aces. Kawa leads the MVC with 20 service aces, an average of .43 per set. Nationally, Kawa ranks 51st nationally in service aces per set and 80th in total service aces.
BACK-TO-BACK WINNERS
With its victory on November 13, 2015 at Evansville, Indiana State secured the program's first back-to-back winning seasons since 1981 & 1982. The Sycamores finished above .500 last season with a 17-16 overall record after compiling a 17-13 overall record in 2014. Indiana State will be vying for its first-ever third consecutive winning campaign in 2016.
SYCAMORES PICKED 7TH IN MVC
The Sycamores have been picked to finish seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference standings as announced late this summer by the league office. Wichita State was picked to defend its conference championship. Indiana State begins conference play on Friday, September 16 at home against Bradley as part of the Indiana State Tournament.
SMART SYCAMORES
ISU earned its 18th straight AVCA Team Academic Award for the 2015 season. The streak is the longest among all schools and ties Drury University (Division II) for the longest streak in the history of the award.
UP NEXT
Indiana State will begin a four-match road swing beginning Sept. 30 when the Sycamores travel to Illinois State.
