TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – After playing four of its last five matches at home, Indiana State heads back on the road for a pair of matches in central Illinois. The Sycamores face Bradley on Friday and Illinois State on Saturday.
Friday's match against Bradley starts at 7 p.m., with first serve in Saturday's match against Illinois State set for 6 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
Last Time Out
Indiana State picked up its first conference win of the season in its last match, defeating UIC in four sets at ISU Arena.
Kira Holland led all players with 16 kills, while
Avery Hales notched her first career double-double with 37 assists and 11 digs. Holland also led Indiana State with 13 kills against both Evansville and Valparaiso.
Overcoming Adversity
Despite playing without multiple starters last weekend, Indiana State showed resilience in picking up its first conference win of the season Saturday over UIC.
Kira Holland's match-high 16 kills and
Avery Hales' 37 assists led the way for the Sycamores, who snapped a 16-match losing streak and a 21-match MVC losing streak in the process.
Indiana State got a balanced effort from all fronts despite being shorthanded, as three Sycamores had double-digit digs and four had six or more kills in the four-set win.
History Maker
Indiana State outside hitter
Kira Holland has earned MVC Freshman of the Week honors in each of the last three weeks, becoming the first player in program history to earn multiple Freshman of the Week honors in the same season and the first player in the conference to earn three straight MVC Freshman of the Week honors since Evansville's Giulia Cardona in 2021.
Indiana State's four MVC Freshman of the Week honors this season are also the most of any MVC school in 2023 and the represent the most weekly awards for the Sycamores in a season in program history. The Sycamores have earned half of the conference's Freshman of the Week honors handed out this season.
Growing The Game
Indiana State's crowds this season have been among the best in program history, with the Sycamores drawing crowds at or near capacity in each of their first four home matches.
The announced attendance of 651 against IUPUI was the largest crowd to witness an Indiana State volleyball match in the facility it its current configuration.
Through its first five home matches, Indiana State has averaged 501 fans per match, which is more than the listed capacity of ISU Arena.
Topping the Charts
Kira Holland has been the standout performer for the Sycamores since the calendar turned to conference play. Holland has accounted for nearly 30 percent of Indiana State's kills in conference play, while her 3.59 kills per set against conference foes ranks eighth in the MVC and first among freshmen.
Holland has earned each of the last three MVC Freshman of the Week honors, becoming the first player in program history to accomplish the feat. She ranks in the top 25 in the conference in kills (eighth), digs (24th) and service aces (21st).
Fab Freshmen
Indiana State's freshman class continues to make a significant impact in the Sycamore rotation, with all five freshmen who have been active for Indiana State making significant contributions.
Macy Lengacher and
Kira Holland have both earned MVC Freshman of the Wek honors this season, with Holland leading MVC freshmen in kills and
Ella Scott leading conference freshmen in hitting percentage. Lengacher has been the Sycamores' libero since day one, while
Avery Hales has led Indiana State in assists since the start of conference play with 7.50 per set.
Jadyn Smith has averaged 1.55 kills per set as part of the Sycamore outside rotation.
The Sycamores boast the conference's freshman leader in kills per set (
Kira Holland), assists per set (
Avery Hales) and hitting percentage (
Ella Scott), while also having two of the top three freshmen in digs per set (Holland and
Macy Lengacher). Indiana State's starting lineup last weekend included four freshmen, while all five who were active factored into the Sycamore rotation.
Opponents At A Glance
Bradley enters the weekend at 7-15 overall and 0-9 in conference play. Each of the Braves' last four losses have come in five sets, with a Monday defeat at Illinois State being the most recent setback. Jasmine Green leads the Bradley attack with 195 kills, with Kendall Minta (160), Karagan Coggin (146) and Abby Johnson (100) all surpassing 100 kills. Minta averages one block per set, while Dru Kuck ranks seventh in the MVC in digs (4.43/set).
Winners of seven straight, Illinois State enters the weekend at 9-12 overall and 7-2 in conference play. The Redbirds defeated Bradley in five sets in their last match. Aida Shadewald (265 kills) and Hannah Reichensperger (201) headline the Redbird attack, with Emily Weber (653 assists) handling the setting duties. Mari Hinkle is third in the MVC in digs, while Reichensperger is seventh in blocks.
Series History
Bradley has a 46-34 advantage in the all-time series, including a 30-9 lead in matches played in Peoria. The Braves and Sycamores split the season series last year, with each team winning on its home floor.
Illinois State has a 67-10 lead in the all-time series and has won each of the last three meetings between the teams. The last match in Normal between the Redbirds and Sycamores went five sets.
Up Next
Indiana State returns home to face Southern Illinois (Oct. 27) and Missouri State (Oct. 28).
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Volleyball team, make sure to check out
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