The Basics
Score - Indiana State 3 - Evansville 2
Records - ISU (3-10, 1-0 MVC) - UE (6-7, 0-1 MVC)
Location - ISU Arena (Terre Haute, Ind.)
 
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State volleyball opened Missouri Valley Conference play with a 3-2 (29-31, 25-16, 9-25, 25-23, 16-14) win over regional rival Evansville Friday night at the ISU Arena.
 
Junior Laura Gross led the way for the Sycamores (3-10, 1-0 MVC) with 16 kills and 20 digs for her ninth double-double of the season while Cassie Kawa continued her efficient ways on the offensive side of the ball, going for 11 kills on just 23 swings for a .348 attacking percentage.
 
It took 10-extra points in the opening set to determine a winner as both teams traded points all the way until Evansville (6-7, 0-1 MVC) took the set 31-29. Sarah Peterson and Kawa each went for four kills in the set as ISU finished with a .233 attacking percentage.
 
Both teams traded lopsided sets during the second and third frames with Indiana State bouncing back for a 25-16 win in the second set before UE dominated the third set 25-9 with an attacking percentage in the set at .286 while holding the Sycamores to -.300 with just two kills.
 
Indiana State bounced back in the fourth set to grab a 25-23 win and force a decisive final frame where ISU would edge the Aces 16-14 to claim the victory. Gross recorded four kills in the frame while the Sycamores capitalized on eight Aces errors en route to the victory.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Gross recorded her ninth double-double of the season with a 16 kills - 20 dig performance
• Kawa is now hitting .372 on the season with 128 kills
• Rachel Griffin finished with 48 assists, needing just 80 more to reach 2,000 for her career
• Libero Stephanie Bindernagel led the team with 25 digs
• ISU hit a match-best .286 in the third set
• Indiana State improved to 2-4 overall in five-set matches

  
Next Up
Indiana State returns to action on Monday when the team will welcome Bradley. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. at ISU Arena.   
 
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.