TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Taylor Shelton's service ace touched off the net and fell to the floor to set off a celebration in front of the Indiana State team bench as the Sycamores topped visiting Northern Iowa on Friday night in five sets, 26-24, 21-25, 25-15, 25-27, 15-13.
 
The Sycamores (15-10, 7-8 MVC) broke open a 6-6 tie in the fifth set on an UNI (11-17, 6-9 MVC) attack error and Kylie Newby followed with a kill to put Indiana State ahead by two at the media timeout. From there, the teams swapped points with UNI tying the frame up at 12-12 and 13-13 to keep their hopes alive in the match.
 
Indiana State took the lead for good on Madeline Williams' 10th kill of the evening setting the stage for Shelton's ace to secure the conference win to open Senior Weekend at ISU Arena.
 
The Sycamores utilized a balanced effort throughout the match with four different players connecting on double-digit kills as Indiana State connected at a .217 clip from the floor as a team. Mallory Keller paced the way with 11 kills in the match, while Kaitlyn Hamilton (10), Kylie Newby (10), and Madeline Williams (10) were also in double-digits in the match.
 
Chloe Mason (27) and Emma Kaelin (23) set up the Indiana State offense in the game as the duo combined for 50 assists in the contest. Williams put together three of the Sycamores' seven aces, while Melina Tedrow added two aces and a team-high 18 digs in the win. Newby and Williams posted six total blocks apiece in the contest with Newby putting together a team-high five solo efforts at the net.
 
Carly Spies was the Panthers' team leader in the contest with a match-high 17 kills, while Kaylissa Arndorfer added 16 kills in the loss. Tayler Alden (37) and Jenna Brandt (26) combined for 63 assists, while Payton Ahrenstorff posted a team-high 19 digs to lead six UNI players in double-digits in the category.
 
First Set
Indiana State broke open a 5-5 tie in the first set with a 10-2 run headlined by two kills apiece by Keller and Hamilton as the Sycamores went up 15-7. The Panthers rallied back to take the 20-18 lead and carried their momentum to set point at 24-20 following an Arndorfer kill. Indiana State rallied back as a pair of UNI attack errors shifted the momentum back to the Sycamores. Newby had a hand in the final three points of the set with a pair of blocks and a kill in the 26-24 win.
 
Second Set
The Sycamores struggled from the floor hitting a team-low .111 in the 25-21 set loss. The set was tied 15-15 following a Newby solo block before the Panthers rattled off four consecutive points to take the 19-15 lead. The Panthers closed out the set on a Tayler Alden kill to even the score at 1-1.
 
Third Set
The third set was all Indiana State all the time as the Sycamores hit a match-best .312 from the floor in a dominant 25-15 set win. The Sycamores broke a 6-6 tie in the set with Ashley Eck serving eight consecutive points in building the 14-6 advantage following a Karinna Gall/Newby block. The Sycamores cruised the rest of the way as the lead never went below four points before Hamilton put home the final kill.
 
Fourth Set
The fourth set came down to the wire before the Panthers took the 27-25 victory to force the deciding fifth frame. ISU rallied back from a 22-19 deficit late in the set to rattle off three consecutive points to tie the frame up on an UNI attack error. The Sycamores held set point at 25-24, but the Panthers took the final three points of the set thanks to a pair of Spies kills to set it to the fifth.
 
Fifth Set
Keller, Newby, and Williams all recorded two kills apiece in the final set of the match as the Sycamores hit .227 over the fifth set in the win. The Sycamores took the lead on an UNI attack error near the media timeout and Indiana State held the advantage the rest of the way in the set win. The Panthers tied the match up at 12-12 before ISU pulled away late on a Williams kill prior to the clinching Shelton ace.
 
News & Notes

• Indiana State split the season series against Northern Iowa as the Sycamores battled back after falling to the Panthers earlier this season on the road.
• Chloe Mason posted a double-double with 27 assists and 13 digs in the contest.
• Mallory Keller posted her 12th double-digit kill effort of the 2021 season and extended her double-digit streak to four consecutive matches in the win.
• Kaitlyn Hamilton recorded her ninth double-digit kill match of the season and first since October 15 against Drake.
• Kylie Newby posted her third double-digit kill effort of the year and posted a new season-high with five solo kills in the match.
• Madeline Williams recorded her 10th double-digit kill game of the season and third in the last four contests. She also recorded her second consecutive match with six total blocks.

Up Next
Indiana State closes out the home portion of the 2021 season tomorrow evening as the Sycamores welcome Drake to ISU Arena for a Missouri Valley match. First serve between the teams is set for 6 p.m. ET.
 
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