ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Indiana State nearly rallied from a two-set deficit Friday evening at Hyland Arena, but the Sycamores' comeback attempt against Austin Peay fell short in five sets (27-25, 25-23, 19-25, 22-25, 15-12).
 
Hannah Baudin nearly recorded a triple-double with 46 assists, 16 digs and eight kills, while Emma Kaelin had seven service aces.Ella Scott led the Sycamores with 14 kills, while Kira Holland had 11 and Karinna Gall added 10.
 
After a back-and-forth start to the opening set, Indiana State jumped out to a 10-5 advantage following a back-to-back kills by Baudin. Austin Peay came back to take the lead before a block solo by Kaitlyn Hamilton knotted the score at 14. Neither team led by more than two for the remainder of the set, but it was Austin Peay who managed to squeak out a 27-25 set win.
 
Indiana State found itself down 4-0 early in the second set before back-to-back service aces by Kaelin gave the Sycamores life. The Sycamores took their first lead of the set at 13-9 following a 5-0 run that featured an ace by Gall and a kill by Holland, but Austin Peay responded with a run of its own to remain within striking distance. The Governors took a late lead in the set and, despite kills by Scott and Baudin, took a 2-0 lead in the match by taking the second set 25-23.
 
Early kills by Holland and Hamilton gave the Sycamores a 3-2 lead in the third, and Indiana State never trailed for the remainder of the set. A three-point scoring run featuring kills by Storm Suhre and Holland put Indiana State ahead 11-8, and the Sycamores later extended that advantage to 17-13 off another kill by Suhre. Kills by Gall and Scott helped the Sycamores extend the match by taking the third set, 25-19.
 
Back-to-back service aces by Macy Lengacher gave Indiana State an early lead in the fourth set, and the Sycamores extended that with kills by Gall, Baudin and Scott. A five-point Sycamore scoring run which included kills by Scott, Baudin and Holland put the Trees ahead 19-13, and Kaelin later added an ace to make it 24-16. Austin Peay fought off multiple set points, but the Sycamores prevailed 25-22 in the fourth set to force a deciding fifth set.
 
Indiana State led 6-4 in the fifth set following kills by Hamillton and Baudin, but Austin Peay went on a 5-1 scoring run and never trailed after that. Kills by Holland, Hamilton and Scott kept the Sycamores within reach, but Austin Peay held on to take the fifth set 15-12, thwarting Indiana State's comeback attempt.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Hannah Baudin led Indiana State in assists (46), digs (16) and blocks (three), while also finishing fifth on the team in kills (eight).
• Indiana State top two kills leaders Friday night were freshmen (Ella Scott, Kira Holland).
• Hannah Baudin's 46-assist, 16-dig performance was her first double-double in an Indiana State uniform. The assist and dig totals were both season highs.

 
News and Notes

• Indiana State's 11 service aces were the second-most in a match under head coach Ashlee Pritchard, behind only the 12 aces the Sycamores had last weekend against Alabama State.
• Friday's match was the first five-set match for the Sycamores since October 14, 2022 against Illinois State.
• Indiana State fell to 2-2 in five-set matches in head coach Ashlee Pritchard's tenure.
• Austin Peay has won all three neutral-site matches between the two programs.

 
Up Next
Indiana State closes play at the Lindenwood Invitational Saturday at 4 p.m. against Lindenwood.
 
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