TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State's 2024 MVC slate didn't get off to the start the Sycamores were hoping for as visiting UIC claimed a three-set win (25-18, 25-15, 25-18) inside Hulman Center.
 
Curry Kendall led the Indiana State attack with eight kills, while Emma Kaelin added seven kills and a team-high eight digs. Ella Scott added a season-high seven blocks, the most by a Sycamore in 2024, while Emily Weber recorded 24 assists and six blocks.
 
Kills from Hannah Baudin and Kaelin gave the Trees a good start, but UIC started stronger en route to an early 7-3 lead. Indiana State pulled back with a Chloe Gilley service ace, and Scott followed with consecutive kills. Kendall knotted the score at 9-all with her first killl of the match, while Weber, Scott and Anna Ptactin teamed up for a pair of blocks to keep things level. UIC regained the lead, but kills from Scott and Kendall kept the Trees close. A late five-point run for the Flames was too much to overcome, though, as the visitors took the opening set 25-18.
 
Weber, Kaelin and Scott got the Sycamores started on the right foot in set two with kills, and Jadyn Smith evened the score at 6-6 with a killl off her own. UIC rattled off a five-point run after the teams were deadlocked, though, and never trailed for the remainder of the set. Kills from Baudin and Kaelin midway through the set pulled the Sycamores closer, and Kendall added another kill later in the set to keep Indiana State within five at 18-13. The visitors went on another late scoring run, though, and took the second set 25-15.
 
The Sycamores got off to a strong start in set three, thanks in part to a kill from Kaelin and an ace from Scott. Two block assists from Weber and Scott kept the Sycamores ahead, but a 12-1 UIC run proved costly for Indiana State. Kaelin put down a pair of kills to help the Sycamores work their way back into the set, and a pair of blocks between Weber, Scott and Kaelin cut Indiana State's deficit to 15-13 midway through the frame. A kill from Kaelin and a UIC attack error kept things close late, but the Flames eventually broke through to withstand Indiana State's rally. UIC closed out the match by taking the third set 25-18.
 
News and Notes

• Friday's match was the first of four inside Hulman Center for Indiana State this season. The Sycamores last played regular season matches in the venue during the 2007 season.
• Indiana State finished with the advantage in blocks (8-7), despite UIC entering the match as the top team in the MVC in blocks per set.
• Emily Weber averaged eight assists per set for the match, and assisted on 80 percent of Indiana State's kills. She also added four kills of her own and recorded a season-high six blocks.
• Curry Kendall's eight kills were her most since the opening weekend of the season.
• Ella Scott's seven blocks were her most in a match this season, and also represented her most in an MVC match in her career.
• Indiana State's third set rally came largely in part due to its defense, as UIC hit just .176 in the set.
• Errors proved costly for Indiana State in the match, as the Sycamores had 20 attack errors compared to 12 for UIC.

 
Up Next
Indiana State closes out the opening weekend of conference play Saturday at 6 p.m. against Valparaiso inside Hulman Center.
 
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