| Match 22 at Loyola Chicago | Match 23 at Valparaiso |
Match 22:
Missouri State |
Friday, Oct. 19, 2018 | 8 p.m. ET | Chicago, Ill. | Gentile Arena |
| TV/Video: ESPN3 | Live Stats |
Match 23:
Valparaiso |
Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 | 8 p.m. ET | Valparaiso, Ind. | ARC |
| TV/Video: ESPN+ | Live Stats |
| Full Match Notes |
Indiana State | Loyola Chicago | Valparaiso |
| Series History |
| Loyola Chicago: Loyola Chicago leads, 11-8 | Last match: LUC won, 3-0, on 19/22/2018 | Streak: LUC, 1 |
| Valparaiso: Indiana State leads, 15-10 | Last match: Valpo won, 3-0, on 9/21/2018 | Streak: Valpo, 1 |
| Social Media |
@IndStVB  | #MarchOn | Facebook  | @IndStVB  | YouTube  |
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State is in the midst of its longest road trip of the season – a stretch of 20 days away from home – and that continues this week when the Sycamores head to Loyola Chicago and Valparaiso for a pair of Missouri Valley Conference matches.
QUICK HITS
• Indiana State turns towards the second half of Valley play.
• This weekend's action continues a season-long road swing for the Sycamores, a stretch that keeps them away from home for 20 days.
• The Sycamores look to rebound after dropping matches to Loyola Chicago and Valpo earlier this season.
•
Laura Gross ranks 43rd nationally with 839 total attacks.
•
Jade York ranks 99th nationally with 330 total digs this season.
•
Melina Tedrow has moved to setter, filling in for
Makayla Knoblauch over the last three matches, and has posted a double-double in every match since the position change.
• The 2018 campaign marks the second season for the Sycamores under the direction of
Lindsay Allman.
DEFENSIVE TREES
Indiana State is among one of the better defensive teams in the nation, entering this week's action ranked 37th nationally - and fourth in the Valley - in total digs (2,722) while ranking 46th nationally in digs per set (16.64).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Indiana State is in the midst of its longest road swing in conference play as the Sycamores head to Loyola (Oct. 19) and Valparaiso (Oct. 20) this weekend. The time away from ISU Arena – a 20-day separation – is part of a nearly three-week road swing for the Trees.
FRESH START (BUT NOT BY CHOICE)
Sometimes adversity thrusts you into a role you didn't expect. That has never been truer than for Indiana State Volleyball lately as an injury has sidelined setter
Makayla Knoblauch and witnessing
Melina Tedrow transition from defensive specialist to setter. While she did practice the position in preseason, it wasn't until Knoblauch's injury nearly midway through the conference season that Tedrow took the reins of the Sycamore offense.
IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD
Indiana State freshman
Madeline Williams has not been intimidated by the collegiate level of play in her true freshman season. She currently leads the Sycamores with a .288 hitting percentage and is second on the team with 48 total blocks entering this week's action.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Loyola Chicago: The last time these two teams faced each other, the Ramblers were on a roll. But now, the team has hit a bit of a rut. Loyola Chicago has lost five consecutive matches and seven of their last 10 entering Friday's match against the Sycamores. The Ramblers remain one of the best blocking teams in the nation, ranked 34th and leading the Valley with 2.51 blocks per set. Heather Kocken leads the team with 1.17 blocks per set, ranking 78th nationally.
Valparaiso: Similar to Loyola Chicago, Valparaiso was hot to start but has since cooled off. The team that jumped out to a 17-2 start to the year has dropped three of its last four matches. But the Crusaders still are nationally ranked in several categories: digs (2nd; 1,537), digs per set (8th; 18.30), kills (9th; 1,144), total attacks (9th; 3,228) and assists (12th; 1,056).
ON THE ATTACK
Laura Gross is relentless. The senior hitter from Indiana State ranks 43rd nationally in total attacks (839) and 66th nationally in attacks per set (10.76). She's also a force on the other side of the ball, ranking 154th nationally with 302 digs this season.
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.
