FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Emma Kaelin averaged nearly four kills per set for Indiana State Saturday, but host Purdue Fort Wayne defeated the Sycamores in three sets (25-19, 25-14, 25-23) in the Trees' final game of the Purde Fort Wayne Invitational.
 
Kaelin had 11 kills and eight digs, and was also responsible for two of the Sycamores' four service aces. Hannah Baudin added nine kills for the Trees, while Emily Weber and Avery Hales combined for 28 assists. Macy Lengacher led the Blue and White with nine digs.
 
Kills from Baudin and Jadyn Smith, along with a Cadence Gilley service ace, got things started for the Sycamores, with Kaelin later adding a pair of kills to give the Trees a 6-5 lead. Neither team led by more than two points until after the media timeout, when the home side took advantage of Indiana State errors to build a 20-15 cushion. Kills from Anna Ptacin, Smith and Kaelin pulled the Trees closer, but Purdue Fort Wayne took the opening set 25-19.
 
Indiana State got off to a slow start in set two, as Purdue Fort Wayne built up a 10-4 lead. The Mastodons extended their lead out to 17-7 before kills from Kaelin and Curry Kendall got the Trees out of their rut. Lake kills from Hales and Scott made the score closer, but the home side cruised to a 25-14 win in the second.
 
Baudin got the Sycamore attack going in the third set with a pair of kills, but three straight errors put Purdue Fort Wayne ahead 9-4. Indiana State clawed its way back with kills from Ella Scott and Kendall, along with an ace fro Kaelin, but the Mastodons later extended their lead to 17-10. The Sycamores showed late life, though, as Kaelin and Baudin combined for five kills in an eight-point span to help Indiana State get within 19-17. Indiana State later cut the deficit down to a point with kills from Kendall and Weber, but Purdue Fort Wayne held on to take the third set 25-23 and win the match.
 
News and Notes

• Emma Kaelin was named to the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational All-Tournament Team after recording double-digit kills in all three matches during the weekend.
• Avery Hales' 13 assists were her most in a match this season. Saturday's match also marked the first time this season that Indiana State had multiple setters with double-digit assists.
• Curry Kendall had four kills on just eight attempts, hitting .375 for the match.
• More than 40 percent of Indiana State's kills came in the third set. The Sycamores had 34 kills for the match, with 14 of them coming in set three.
• Indiana State had four different players with five or more digs in the match (Macy Lengacher – nine, Emma Kaelin – eight, Cadence Gilley – seven, Avery Hales – five).

 
Up Next
Indiana State begins Missouri Valley Conference play Friday evening at 6 p.m. against UIC inside Hulman Center. Friday's match is the first regular season match in Hulman Center since the 2007 season.
 
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