TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State plays its final home matches of the 2024 season Friday and Saturday when the Sycamores face Belmont and Murray State inside Hulman Center.
 
Friday's match against Belmont will start at 6 p.m., while Saturday's match against Murray State will have a 5 p.m. first serve. Both matches will be carried on ESPN+.
 
Matchday Promotions
Friday's match is Riley's Night and Blackout Cancer, while Saturday's match is Senior Night and Tropical Night.
 
Last Time Out
Indiana State fell in three-set matches at home to Illinois State and Bradley. Emma Kaelin had seven kills and six digs against Bradley to lead the Trees, while Ella Scott hit .500 on 10 attempts (5-0-10) against the Braves. Lily Mueller and Curry Kendall had six kills each against Illinois State, with Mueller hitting .500 (6-1-10). Macy Lengacher had 13 digs against the Redbirds.
 
Senior Sendoff
Indiana State' will honor its two-athlete senior class, consisting of setter/outside hitter Hannah Baudin and outside hitter Emma Kaelin, prior to Saturday's match against Murray State.
 
Baudin has played two seasons for the Sycamores, totaling 138 kills, 392 assists and 151 digs. She has two matches with double-digit kills, both of which have come this season, and also has four matches with double-digit digs and six matches with 30 or more assists. Baudin nearly registered a triple-double last season against Austin Peay with eight kills, 46 assists and 16 digs. The 46 assists and 16 digs were both career-highs.
 
Kaelin has played four seasons for the Sycamores, including the 2021 season which saw Indiana State earn a spot in the NIVC. She is the only active Sycamore with more than 1,000 assists and 750 digs, and has played every position for the Trees except middle blocker. Kaelin leads the Sycamores with 252 kills this season and has 14 matches with double-digit kills. She also has 30 career matches with double-digit digs and eight matches with 30 or more assists in her career. Her seven aces against Austin Peay last season ranks in the top 10 single-game ace performances in program history. Kaelin was also a 2023 MVC Scholar-Athlete Team selection.
 
The Last Ride
This weekend's matches are Indiana State's last home matches of the season, with the Sycamores' numbers being significantly better at home compared to on the road.
 
Indiana State's hitting percentage is 25 points higher at home compared to on the road, and the Sycamores average more than one kill, one assist and one dig per set better at home compared to on the road.
 
Groundhog Day
Indiana State sees a familiar set of foes to close out the home portion of its schedule in Belmont and Murray State. The Bruins and Racers have been the Sycamores' Senior Weekend opponents every season since 2022.
 
Indiana State won in three sets against both Belmont and Murray State during last year's Senior Weekend, with the weekend sweep accounting for two of the Sycamores' three three-set conference wins since 2022.
 
Finding Consistency
Indiana State has found a regular rotation that has been successful, with five Sycamore starters – Kira Holland, Emma Kaelin, Curry Kendall, Lily Mueller and Ella Scott - averaging more than one kill 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, Mueller, Scott and Emily Weber, with Macy Lengacher in at libero.
 
This Weekend's Opponents At A Glance
Belmont enters the weekend at 8-17 overall and 3-10 in conference play. The Bruins have lost each of their last three matches and have struggled on the road with a 1-9 record in away matches. Brooke Gilleland (257 kills) and Brenna Kauffeld (234) lead the attack, while Kamryn Olsen has dished out 680 assists. Lily Lutz has more than 400 digs this season, while Bella Mathis leads the Bruins with 81 blocks.
 
Murray State comes in at 12-10 overall and 7-6 in conference play. The Racers are coming off back-to-back losses on the road, but have a 5-4 record in road matches. Ella Vogel leads the attack with 346 kills, with four other Racers tallying more than 150 this season. Bailey DeMier has nearly 900 assists, while Dahlia Miller has nearly 500 digs. Vogel also leads the team with 52 blocks.
 
Series History vs. This Weekend's Opponents
Indiana State is 2-4 all-time against Belmont, with the Sycamores and Bruins splitting the two matches in Terre Haute. Belmont won the earlier meeting this season in four sets in Nashville, but Indiana State swept the Bruins in last season's meeting in Terre Haute.
 
Indiana State is 1-6 all-time against Murray State, with the Racers also holding a 2-1 lead in matches played in Terre Haute. The Racers swept Indiana State earlier this season in Murray, but the Sycamores won last season's meeting in Terre Haute in three sets.
 
Up Next
Indiana State plays its final three regular season matches on the road, starting November 15 at Valparaiso.

Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Volleyball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.