SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Kira Holland tallied a match-high 20 kills Friday night, but Indiana State was outlasted in four sets (20-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23) by host Missouri State inside Hammons Student Center.
 
Holland was responsible for 40 percent of the Sycamores' kills in the match, with Ella Scott and Kaitlyn Hamilton adding nine and eight kills, respectively. Avery Hales had 36 assists for the Sycamores, while Emma Kaelin registered a team-leading 15 digs.
 
Kills by Hamilton and Madisen Perry got the Sycamores off to a good start in the first set, while a service ace from Scott made it 11-8 in favor of the Sycamores midway through. Indiana State led by six at 14-8 following a pair of kills from Holland, but the Bears went on a run to cut the Sycamore lead down to a point. Scott put down a pair of kills during a five-point Sycamore run on Asia Povlin's serve, with kills by Holland and Perry sealing a 25-20 opening set win for the Trees.
 
Indiana State got off to another strong start in the second set with two quick aces from Holland, but a 7-1 run saw Missouri State take a 12-8 lead. Kills by Perry, Hamilton, Holland and Karinna Gall cut into the Missouri State lead, but the Trees never got closer than a three-point deficit at 17-14. Hamilton added a block solo and teamed up with Perry on a block assist late in the set, but Missouri State evened things up by taking the second set 25-19.
 
Three kills by Holland in a four-point span helped Indiana State take a 6-5 lead early in the third set, with the Sycamores later extending their lead to 11-7 on kills from Hamilton and Gall. An 11-1 run from Missouri State proved to be the difference in the set, with the Bears building a 21-14 lead late. Despite kills from Holland and Hamilton, the homestanding Bears took the third set 25-18 and took a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
Indiana State found itself down 5-2 early in the fourth set, but kills by Scott and Hales helped the Sycamores go on a four-point run to claim the lead. Missouri State answered with a four-point run of its own, though, and later pushed its lead to 15-9. Facing an 18-12 deficit, Indiana State went on a rally to take back the lead. Kills by Hales and Perry made it an 18-16 match, and Holland later added kills on four consecutive rallies to give the Trees a 20-19 advantage. Holland and Jadyn Smith tacked on kills to make it 23-21 Indiana State, but Missouri State scored the last four points to take the fourth set 25-23 and win the match.
 
Inside the Numbers

• Kira Holland's 20 kills were the most in a match by a Sycamore this season and the most in a match by a freshman in the MVC this season.
• Holland also notched her second double-double of the season with 20 kills and 11 digs.
• Nearly 70 percent of Indiana State's kills (34 out of 50) came from its freshman class.
• Four of Indiana State's nine blocks came in the fourth set, with the Sycamores finishing with 2.25 blocks per set.

 
News and Notes

• Nearly 70 percent of Indiana State's kills (34 out of 50) came from its freshman class.
• Indiana State and Missouri State both finished with 50 kills in the match.
• Avery Hales started at setter for the second straight match and had her second consecutive match with 30-plus assists.
• Indiana State dropped to 2-2 when winning the first set this season.

 
Up Next
Indiana State's four-match road trip concludes Saturday at 6 p.m. against Southern Illinois.
 
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