INDIANAPOLIS – After falling behind 2-1 to Butler, Indiana State volleyball mounted a valiant comeback attempt to force the match into five sets, but ultimately fell to the Bulldogs 3-2 on Thursday evening.
 
With the loss, the Sycamores fell to 1-2 (1-1) on the year while Butler improved to 2-2 (0-0).
 
A trio of Trees managed to cross the double-digit kills threshold, led by sophomore Gretchen Kuckkan with 14. Madeline Williams posted her third-straight game with at least 10 kills, adding 13 while Mallory Keller added 12. As a team, the Sycamores ended with 60 kills and the Bulldogs finished with 67.
 
Libero Melina Tedrow had a strong defensive performance for the Blue & White, ending her day with 28 of Indiana State's 87 total digs. Chloe Mason contributed 16 digs while earning her second-consecutive double-double with 31 assists.
 
At the net, Karinna Gall and Williams picked-up two block assists each, but it was Butler who held the advantage with seven total team blocks compared to four from ISU.
 
The Sycamores wasted no time in pressing the attack with the Bulldogs in Hinkle Fieldhouse, jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the match following a 19 kill, 31 digs first set that saw ISU win, 28-26. The Bulldogs responded in kind, hitting .333 and .263 to take a commanding 2-1 lead.
 
Despite falling behind, the Trees didn't relent in an early back-and-forth matchup in set four. Holding a 16-15 lead, Indiana State rattled off a quick 4-0 run capped off by a kill from Kylie Newby to extend their lead to 20-15. The Bulldogs would respond with a 4-0 run of their own, pulling back within one, but back-to-back service aces from Tedrow helped ensure a 25-20 set victory for the Sycamores.
 
Set five saw the Bulldogs begin on a 7-2 run, and despite pulling back to within three, the gap proved too much for the Sycamores to overcome.
 
Indiana State returns to Valley action with a Saturday-Sunday series (Feb. 7-8) against Illinois State in the ISU Arena. Sunday's first serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and will be aired on the Valley on ESPN.