TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Curry Kendall tallied a match-high 12 kills on a .320 clip Saturday evening, but Indiana State was defeated by Valparaiso in three sets (25-19, 25-15, 25-13) inside Hulman Center.
 
Hannah Baudin added seven kills, her most in a conference match in her career, while a trio of Sycamores – Emma Kaelin, Cadence Gille and Macy Lengacher – registered double-digit digs. Emily Weber and Avery Hales combined for 27 assists for the Trees.
 
Baudin and Anna Ptacin teamed up for a block for Indiana State's first point, but it was tough sledding for the Trees early on as Valpo built a 7-2 lead. A pair of kills from Ella Scott, along with one from Weber, slowly cut into the Sycamores' deficit, and Kendall tacked on two more kills to pull the Trees within three at 12-9. Valpo countered with a run of its own, though, and extended its lead out to 20-11. Despite the deficit, Indiana State clawed its way back, with kills from Scott, Kendall and Baudin cutting the Valpo advantage down to 23-18. Despite a late kill from Baudin, the visitors claimed the opening set 25-19.
 
Indiana State got off to another slow start in set two, as Valpo opened on a 4-0 run before Kendall put down a kill. Kaelin added a pair of kills, while Scott added another, but another run for the Beacons saw the Sycamore deficit swell to 14-5. Three more kills from Kendall pulled the Sycamores closer, and back-to-back Valpo errors got Indiana State within 17-13, but that was the closest the Trees got. Baudin put another point on the board with a block solo, but Valpo won the last six points to take the second set 25-15.
 
Kills from Kendall and Lily Mueller gave the Sycamores early life in the third set, but another Valpo run put the Sycamores in a 7-2 hole. Baudin and Jadyn Smith added kills and Kendall stuffed an attack for a block solo, as the Trees got within 9-5, but Indiana State never got closer for the remainder of the set. Kendall tallied two more kills, while Baudin and Scott each tallied another, but Valpo kept its foot on the gas and extended its lead to 22-10. Late kills from Kendall and Kaelin softened the score, but the Beacons closed out the match by winning the third set 25-13.
 
News and Notes

• Curry Kendall had four kills in each of the three sets played, and hit .200 or better in all three sets.
• Saturday's match was Curry Kendall's second with double-digit kills this season, with her previous 10-plus kill match coming against South Dakota State during the opening weekend.
• Indiana State's 56 digs were its most in a three-set match this season, while the Sycamores' 18.7 digs per set marked the highest per-set average for the Blue and White this season.
• Avery Hales made her first start of the season as part of a two-setter approach for Indiana State, with her 12 assists being her second-most in a match this season.
• Saturday's match closed the first of two home weekends at Hulman Center. The Sycamores' final home conference weekend (Nov. 8-9) will also be played at Hulman Center, with the Trees' remaining home matches staying at ISU Arena.

 
Up Next
Indiana State starts a four-match road trip Friday at Murray State, with first serve set for 7 p.m.
 
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