TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State returns to the confines of ISU Arena for a pair of matches over the weekend, starting Friday evening against Southern Illinois at 6 p.m.
The Sycamores also play host to Missouri State Saturday at 5 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
Matchday Promotions
Friday's match is sponsored by Greek's Pizza, with a giveaway available for students who attend the match. The match has also been designated as Indiana State's Halloween Night.
Saturday's match is a Blue Out, with all fans encouraged to wear blue for the match.
Last Time Out
Indiana State is looking to get back on track after dropping both ends of its most recent road trip against Bradley and Illinois State. Four of the six sets played were contested by five points or less.
Kira Holland had a double-double against Illinois State with 14 kills and 10 digs, while
Avery Hales had 31 assists, seven digs, five kills and three aces against Bradley.
History Maker
Indiana State outside hitter
Kira Holland has earned MVC Freshman of the Week honors in each of the last four weeks, becoming the first player in program history to earn multiple Freshman of the Week honors in the same season and just the second freshman in conference history to be named MVC Freshman of the Week in four consecutive weeks. Missouri State's Danielle Messa is the only other athlete in MVC history to earn four straight Freshman of the Week honors, having done so in 2016.
Indiana State's five 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 more than half of the conference's Freshman of the Week honors handed out this season.
Home Sweet Home
Indiana State returns home for a pair of matches this week, with contests against Southern Illinois and Missouri State on deck at ISU Arena. The Sycamores close the regular season with five of their last seven games coming on their home court.
Each of Indiana State's conference wins since the start of the 2022 season have come at home, while the Sycamores' average attendance this season is over the listed capacity of ISU Arena.
Crunch Time
With the conference tournament less than a month away, Indiana State finds itself looking to move up the standings. The Sycamores are currently three games back of the final spot in the tournament field, which is currently occupied by Southern Illinois. Of the Sycamores' last seven matches, four come against teams in the bottom half of the standings, with each of those four matches to be played at home.
Indiana State closes the season with five of its last seven matches at home, starting with this weekend's contests. The Sycamores' lone road matches during that span come Nov. 3 and 4 at Northern Iowa and Drake.
The Streak Lives On
Indiana State outside hitter
Kira Holland continues to post strong attacking numbers for the Sycamores, having notched double-digit kills in each of the last 10 matches.
The streak dates back to the opening weekend of conference play, where she is averaging 3.76 kills per set. Holland had double-digit kills in 15 of the last 17 matches for Indiana State, and also has double-digit digs in seven matches during that span.
Opponents At A Glance
Southern Illinois enters the weekend at 12-10 overall and 4-7 in MVC play. The Salukis have dropped their last six matches. Nataly Garcia leads SIU with 273 kills, while Annabelle Sulish and Tatum Tornatta have also topped 200 kills. Anna Jaworski (449 assists) and Ema Stermenska (463 assists) split the setting duties, while Cecilia Bulmahn leads the team with 268 digs. Imani Hartfield has a team-high 64 blocks.
Missouri State heads into the weekend at 10-13 overall and 4-7 in MVC play. The Bears have lost five of their last seven matches. Maddy Bushnell leads the Bears with 226 kills, while Breanah Rives has 204 kills. Morgan Sprague (488 assists) and Josie Halbleib (310 assists) split the setting duties, while Teagan Polcovich has a team-high 436 digs. Azyah Green leads the team with 86 blocks.
Series History
Southern has a 54-25 advantage in the all-time series, and won the earlier meeting this season in Carbondale in four sets. Indiana State is 6-4 in its last 10 matches against the Salukis, including wins in two of the last three matches in Terre Haute.
Missouri State had a 72-4 advantage in the all-time series and won the first meeting between the teams this season in four sets in Springfield. Three of Indiana State's four wins in the series have come in the last five years, including a five-set win in Terre Haute last season.
Up Next
Indiana State heads on the road for the final time this season to face the top two teams in the conference, Northern Iowa (November 3) and Drake (November 4).
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