KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Indiana State had four players register 14 kills and posted a dominating 12-point win to clinch the match in a 3-1 victory over North Florida Friday afternoon at the Rocky Top Invitational in Knoxville.
 
Laura Gross, Damadj Johnson, Rhiannon Morozoff and Madeline Williams all put down 14 kills as the Sycamores (3-1) totaled a season-high 65 kills in all. Johnson was particularly impressive with six blocks at the net and a .560 hitting percentage (14-0-25) in the match while Williams' 14 kills marked a season and career high for the freshman.
 
Two close sets early on (25-23, 23-25) gave the appearance of a close match the whole way through but North Florida (0-4) couldn't sustain the competitive play, dropping the final two sets by scores of 25-19 and 25-13. The final set marked the largest margin of victory in a set for the Sycamores since October 2017.
 
SET 1 – Indiana State 25, North Florida 23

• The Sycamores hit an impressive .361 to North Florida's .258
• ISU led 22-17 and then again 24-21 before the Ospreys scored two straight points.
• Following an ISU timeout, Madeline Williams notched her fifth kill of the set to clinch the set victory.

SET 2 – North Florida 25, Indiana State 23

• The close set featured 13 ties, including the last one at 23-23.
• Both teams struggled to hit with Indiana State leading, .156 to .135.
• The difference came with UNF's four service aces in the set.

SET 3 – Indiana State 25, North Florida 19

• Indiana State trailed 7-6 early on before going on a 5-0 run to force a UNF timeout
• Damadj Johnson registered six kills and three blocks (1-2) in the set.
• Laura Gross was credited with an impressive nine digs in the set.
• The Sycamores hit .317 to North Florida's .182.

SET 4 – Indiana State 25, North Florida 13

• This marked the largest set win (12 points) for the Sycamores since a 25-12 win over Evansville in 2017.
• Indiana State hit a dominating .455 (18-3-33).
• No one player padded their stats. Four different Sycamores led with four kills.
• Indiana State served up three aces.

NOTABLES

• Indiana State's 25-13 set win in the fourth set marked the largest set win for the Sycamores since a 25-12 win over Evansville on Oct. 20, 2017.
• The Sycamores are now 1-0 all-time against North Florida.
• Damadj Johnson registered her 200^th career block assist in the first set. She finished the match with four block assists bringing her to 203 in her career.
• Indiana State's sets have been determined by four or fewer points in 10 of the 16 sets they have played in this season.
• The Sycamores have won the first set in all four matches played this season.
• Devynn Merriman made her first career start.
• Madeline Williams registered a season and career high of 14 kills.
• Makayla Knoblauch was credited with a season and career high of 48 assists.
• The 65 kills by the team marked a season high.
• Laura Gross (14 kills, 17 digs) registered her 25^th career double-double.

UP NEXT
Indiana State faces Winthrop on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. ET before taking on host Tennessee at 7:30 p.m. ET.
 
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.