FORT WAYNE, Ind. – A hot start for Indiana State was stymied as the Sycamores dropped a 3-2 decision to Oakland Saturday afternoon at the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational.
 
Rhiannon Morozoff set a new career high with 14 kills and Laura Gross registered her 24^th career double-double (12 kills, 13 digs) against the Grizzlies (1-1).
 
Defensively, Damadj Johnson was a brick wall at the net with nine total blocks (2 solo, 7 assisted) while Jade York tallied 16 digs.
 
But Oakland refused to quit and held Indiana State (2-1) to a negative hitting percentage over the final two sets after withstanding a third set Sycamore rally.
 
Set scores were 21-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-22 and 15-5.
 
SET 1 – Indiana State 25, Oakland 21

• The Sycamores jumped out to a 4-0 start in the set and never trailed or tied.
• The closest Oakland came was at 20-19 but a Laura Gross kill kept the Grizzlies at bay.
• ISU served up four aces in the set.

SET 2 – Indiana State 25, Oakland 16

• The Trees ended the set on a 7-1 run.
• Indiana State hit .417 (12-2-24) in the set, holding Oakland to a negative hitting mark (-.027, 9-10-37).
• Damadj Johnson tallied four kills and three blocks (1 BS, 2 BA) in the set.

SET 3 – Oakland 25, Indiana State 23

• Indiana State trailed 19-13 before going on a 6-1 run to pull within one but would never overtake the Grizzlies.
• Nikkie White made her first appearance at the 19-14 mark and registered four kills in the set, leading ISU.
• Oakland out-hit Indiana State, .237 to .154.

SET 4 – Oakland 25, Indiana State 22

• The set featured eight ties and three lead changes.
• Tied 16-16, Oakland would go on a 5-0 run to take a 21-16 lead that they would not relinquish.
• Indiana State finished the set hitting -.028.

SET 5 – Oakland 15, Indiana State 5

• Oakland would go on a 10-2 run at the 5-3 mark to close out the set and match.
• The Sycamores struggled offensively, hitting -.091 (3-5-22), while Oakland hit .312 (6-1-16).
• Nine of Oakland's 15 points were due to an ISU hitting (5), blocking (1) or service (3) error.

NOTABLES

• Indiana State still leads the all-time series over Oakland, 3-1. The series dates back to 1998.
• The match marked the second time the two teams have met on a neutral court after a 3-1 Sycamore win in 2015 in Kent, Ohio.
• Laura Gross notched her 24^th career double-double (12 kills, 13 digs)
• Rhiannon Morozoff set a new career high with 14 kills.

UP NEXT
Indiana State travels to Knoxville, Tennessee for the Tennessee Classic next weekend. ISU will face North Florida, Winthrop and Tennessee.
 
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.