TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Damadj Johnson made a triumphant return to the court with 10 kills and a .304 hitting percentage, adding three blocks to her credit, but Indiana State's offense struggled apart from number nine in a 3-0 loss at Valparaiso Saturday night.
 
Johnson, who had not played since Sept. 28 before Friday's match at Loyola, got back into the swing of things Saturday. Her .304 hitting percentage was the best of any Sycamore and was even her best since facing Central Michigan on Sept. 8.
 
But Indiana State (8-15, 1-10 Missouri Valley) only hit .103 as a team and hit into 8.5 blocks against Valparaiso (20-5, 7-3).
 
The host Crusaders were led by Ally Cummings's 13 kills and .524 percentage while Rylee Cookerly tallied 19 digs.
 
Set scores were 25-13, 25-18 and 25-21.
 
SET 1 – Valparaiso 25, Indiana State 13

• ISU hit only .031 to Valparaiso's .281.
• Laura Gross led the Sycamores with four kills and eight digs in the set.
• Indiana State's 16 total digs were more than Valparaiso's 13.

SET 2 – Valparaiso 25, Indiana State 18

• Damadj Johnson led the Trees with six kills in the set. She hit .556 (6-1-9).
• The Sycamores were out hit in the frame, .200 to .128.
• Ally Cummings led Valpo with seven kills.

SET 3 – Valparaiso 25, Indiana State 21

• The closest set of the three, there were seven ties and three lead changes.
• Laura Gross led ISU with four kills and five digs in the set.
• ISU hit .130 compared to Valpo's .171.

NOTABLES

• Indiana State is now 15-11 all-time against Valparaiso. Saturday's loss marks ISU's first loss at Valpo since 2009.
• After no aces, the Sycamores have failed to serve up an ace in consecutive matches for the first time this season.
• Damadj Johnson reached double-digit kills for the first time since Sept. 15 against Portland State. This marks only her second match played since Sept. 28.

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