CHICAGO – Indiana State continued its three-match season-ending road trip Saturday night, but homestanding UIC topped the Sycamores in three sets (25-18, 25-23, 25-14) inside Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
Jadyn Smith and Kira Holland led the Sycamore attack with nine kills each, while Emma Kaelin added four kills, six digs and an ace. Avery Hales had 15 assists and six digs, while Ella Scott had a match-high four blocks.
 
Kills from Smith and Josilyn Wadas, along with an ace from Kaelin, helped the Trees jump out to a 5-0 lead before UIC came back with a run of its own. The Sycamores remained in front following another kill from Smith, but the Flames went on an 8-1 run to claim a 15-10 advantage. Two more kills from Holland and a block solo from Scott pulled the Trees within a pair, but the home side closed on a 6-1 run to take the first set 25-18.
 
Indiana State got off to a good start in the second, with kills from Wadas, Kaelin and Holland opening the Sycamores' account in the set. Smith tacked on two more, with Wadas and Kaelin following suit as the Sycamores took a 9-6 lead following an ace from Kaelin. UIC worked its way back before kills from Holland and Smith gave the Blue and White a one-point lead midway through the set. In a back-and-forth frame in which neither team led by more than three, four kills between Smith and Hannah Baudin had the Trees within two points of leveling the match. UIC won the last three points, though, taking the second set 25-23 in the process.
 
Four early kills between Baudin and Holland had the Sycamores off and running in set three, amd Smith added another to help the Trees keep pace with UIC's attack. UIC went on a run to take a 13-6 lead, but kills from Smith and Holland along with a block solo from Wadas pulled the Trees back within four midway through. The Flames scored five straight points after that, though, to take full control of the set. Holland put down a pair of late kills, but UIC closed out the match by taking the third set 25-14.
 
News and Notes

• Jadyn Smith's nine kills were tied for her most in a conference match this season, while Kira Holland matched her season high of nine kills.
• Josilyn Wadas tallied a career-high four kills on seven attempts and Hannah Baudin had four kills on eight attempts, with both going error-free.
• Indiana State tied its season high of four block solos, with Ella Scott accounting for three.
• More than half of Indiana State's kills came in the second set, where the Sycamores hit .268 (18 kills-7 errors-41 attempts).

 
Up Next
Indiana State closes its 2024 season Wednesday night at Evansville, with first serve set for 7 p.m.
 
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