TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State begins a four-match homestand, its final stretch of home matches this season, when Bradley and Illinois State travel to Terre Haute for weekend matches inside ISU Arena.
Both matches are slated for a 6 p.m. first serve and will be carried on ESPN+.
Matchday Promotions
Friday's match has been designated as Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night at ISU Arena, in recognition of the faculty and staff members throughout the Indiana State campus who support the Sycamores' student-athletes and coaching staff.
Last Time Out
Indiana State fell in three-set matches on the road against league leaders Northern Iowa and Drake.
Macy Lengacher had her two highest digs per set averages of the season in the matches, with a season-high 20 digs (6.67 per set) against Drake and 19 (6.33 per set) against Northern Iowa.
Curry Kendall also had 12 kills against Drake for her sixth double-digit kill match of the season, and she also led the Sycamores with nine kills against Northern Iowa.
Home Sweet Home
This weekend's matches are the first of back-to-back weekends at home for Indiana State. The Sycamores welcome Belmont and Murray State for Senior Weekend next week, with those two matches taking place at Hulman Center.
Indiana State's last homestand saw the Sycamores play their best volleyball of the season, culminating with a three-set win over Evansville. The Sycamores hit above .200 in all three matches of the homestand, including a season-best mark of .290 against Evansville.
Each of Indiana State's four matches this season has seen the Sycamores hit at least .200 and record 50 kills. The Sycamores have also tallied at least 50 digs in each match inside ISU Arena.
Can You Dig It?
Indiana State libero
Macy Lengacher has put together her most consistent matches in a Sycamore uniform over the last month. Lengacher has tallied double-digit digs in 10 of Indiana State's 11 conference matches this season, and is averaging just under four digs per set against MVC foes.
Over the last six matches, Lengacher has averaged 4.52 digs per set, including three matches with at least five digs per set. Included in that are career-best dig per set numbers against both Drake (6.67) and Northern Iowa (6.33).
Fab Freshman
Indiana State's improvement in recent weeks has coincided with outside hitter
Curry Kendall's best stretch of matches this year. Kendall has four matches with double-digit kills in the last five matches, with five of her six double-digit kill matches coming against conference foes. She also leads Indiana State with 110 kills since the start of conference play.
Kendall has averaged more than four kills per set over the last five matches and is second among MVC freshmen in kills per set during conference play. Included in that are a pair of 19-kill performances against Missouri State and Evansville, representing the most kills in a match by a Sycamore this season.
Finding Consistency
Indiana State has found a regular rotation that has been successful, with four Sycamore starters –
Kira Holland,
Emma Kaelin,
Curry Kendall and
Ella Scott - averaging more than 1.75 kills per set this season.
The Sycamores have used the same starting lineup for each of the last seven matches. The lineup has consisted of Holland, Kaelin Kendall,
Lily Mueller, Scott and
Emily Weber, with
Macy Lengacher in at libero.
Setting Up Shop
Indiana State setter
Emily Weber has surpassed multiple career milestones during the 2023 campaign, with the junior recently surpassing 2,000 career assists, 500 career digs and 200 career kills. Weber also surpassed 50 aces in her career during the early stages of the 2024 season.
Weber has played an integral part in Indiana State's recent run of form, as she is averaging 9.94 assists per set over the last five matches, an increase of more than two assists per set compared to her season average. She also registered a pair of double-doubles in that span against Southern Illinois (46 assists, 12 digs) and Evansville (39 assists, 14 digs).
This Weekend's Opponents At A Glance
Bradley enters the weekend at 10-13 overall and 5-6 in conference play. The Braves have lost five straight, including a pair of five-set matches. Iva Popovic leads the attack with 313 kills, while Silan Demirkol has 245 kills. Maria Drapp (474 assists) and Corrie Brown (383) split the setting duties for the Braves. Irene Mostardini has a team-high 443 digs, while Beste Ayhan has 77 blocks.
Illinois State comes in at 11-13 overall and 6-5 in conference play. The Redbirds have lost four straight entering the weekend. though they have won at least one set in each of those defeats. Aida Shadewald leads the Illinois State attack with 318 kills, while Mekaila Aupiu has dished out nearly 1000 assists for the season. Sammi Bunch has a team-high 375 digs, while Khenedi Guest has tallied 229 kills and 77 blocks.
Series History vs. This Weekend's Opponents
Indiana State is 34-48 all-time against Bradley, though the Sycamores have a 24-14 advantage in matches in Terre Haute between the teams. Bradley has won three straight in the series, including a three-set win in Peoria in October. The Sycamores' last win in the series came in the 2022 conference opener, a four-set win inside ISU Arena in head coach
Ashlee Pritchard's MVC debut.
Indiana State is 10-68 all-time against Illinois State, and the Redbirds also own a 29-8 advantage in matches played in Terre Haute. Illinois State has won five straight in the series, including a three-set win in Normal in October. Indiana State's last win in the series came in 2021, a five-set in Normal, with the Sycamores' last win in Terre Haute was a four-set win during the 2020-21 season.
Up Next
Indiana State plays its last two home matches of the season against Belmont (Nov. 8) and Murray State (Nov. 9). Both matches will take place inside Hulman Center.
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Volleyball team, make sure to check out
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