Ace Hunt
GoSycamores.com
SETTING THE STAGE
With two tournament victories in the first two weeks of the college volleyball season for Indiana State, the Sycamores move on to the third weekend of the season with a three-game stretch as part of the North Texas Invitational in Denton, Texas. Indiana State plays twice on Friday, September 9 as they take on UNC-Wilmington at 11:30 a.m. (ET) and then host North Texas at 8 p.m. On Saturday, September 10, the Sycamores will take on Louisiana-Lafayette at 10 a.m.
SERIES HISTORY
UNC-Wilmington
All Time Series: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
Under Coach Dahl-Skinner: 0-0
North Texas
All Time Series: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
Under Coach Dahl-Skinner: 1-1
Louisiana-Lafayette
All Time Series: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
Under Coach Dahl-Skinner: 0-0
THE HEAD COACH
Traci Dahl-Skinner
9th season (95-158)
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER WIN
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.
GRIFFIN NAMED MVP AGAIN
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. Griffin has recorded a MVC high 244 assists, for an average of 10.17 per set. Griffin leads the league is assists per set.
MURPHY'S LAW
Indiana State senior Shannon Murphy posted 51 digs, averaging 3.92 per set as the Sycamores won the West Virginia Capital Classic. Muprhy was named to the all-tournament team following the Sycamores 2-1 record at the event. Murphy added five assists and had six service aces, including several that helped swing matches in the Sycamores' favor. Murphy opened her tournament with 19 digs and a pair of service aces against Big 12 foe West Virginia. Murphy had 12 digs and one assist in the quick 3-0 victory over Morehead State. Murphy tallied 20 digs and three assists in the victory over host Marshall which secured the tournament championship. She added four service aces, two of which came back-to-back in a critical fourth set victory to force the decisive fifth set.
JOHNSON NAMED ALL-TOURNAMENT
Indiana State freshman Damadj Johnson posted 20 kills over a three-game stretch which saw the Sycamores win the West Virginia Capital Classic – its second tournament victory in as many weeks. Johnson was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts. She averaged 1.54 kills per set and had an attack percentage of .267. She added 6.5 total blocks and scored 26.5 points. She also added two digs and one assist over the weekend. Johnson posted 10 kills and a .368 attack percentage with 1.5 blocks in the tournament opener against West Virginia. Johnson was strong at the net in the three set sweep of Morehead State as she led the team with 2.5 blocks. She posted eight kills and a .278 attack percentage with 2.5 blocks and 10.5 points scored in the five set victory over host Marshall which captured the championship.
DEFENSIVE SYCAMORES
Indiana State continues to be one of the best defensive teams in the Missouri Valley Conference as they lead the league through two weeks of play by limiting the opposition to a paltry .141 attack percentage. ISU has also posted 51 total blocks, an average of 2.12 blocks per set.
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 THE 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
The Sycamores will face off against UNC-Wilmington, North Texas and Louisiana-Lafayette at the North Texas Invitational in Denton, Texas on September 9-10. ISU opens against UNC-Wilmington on Sept. 9 at 11:30 p.m. before playing host North Texas at 8:30 p.m. On September 10, the Sycamores will play Louisiana-Lafayette at 10:00 a.m.
