TERRE HAUTE, IND - Indiana State opened its final weekend of regular-season play with a hard-fought five-set loss to Southern Illinois (19-25, 25-20, 28-26, 16-25, 12-15). The Sycamores return to the Hulman Center on Saturday, November 15, to close out the regular season and celebrate Senior Day against Drake. 
 
The Sycamores were led by Kira Holland's 25 kills, followed by Curry Kendall with 15, while Ava Robart and Kimora Whetstone added 7 each. Macy Lengacher paced the defense with 23 digs, with Avery Hales adding 15 and Holland contributing 14.
 
Set 1 | Southern Illinois 25, Indiana State 19
The Salukis pulled ahead early with a seven-point service run from Cecilia Bulmahn, halted by a Holland kill to make it 9-4. Indiana State cut the deficit to two at 12-10 on a Kendall kill, but SIU broke free again to lead 23-16. Hales provided a three-point service run to shorten the gap, but the Salukis were undeterred and closed out the set 25-19.
 
Set 2 | Indiana State 25, Southern Illinois 20
Indiana State answered with a strong start in the second set, jumping ahead 5-1 behind a five-point service run from Robart that included two aces. SIU pulled within one at 13-12 and later tied the set at 17-17, but the Sycamores regained control and finished the set on a two-point service run from Emily Weber to win 25-20.
 
Set 3 | Indiana State 28, Southern Illinois 26
The Sycamores opened with a 4-0 run on Lengacher's serve and held a multi-point lead until SIU closed the gap with a four-point service run from Jillian Shaneyfelt, setting the score at 20-19 before a Robart kill stopped the momentum. The teams traded points with four ties down the final stretch, but Indiana State prevailed 28-26.
 
Set 4 | Southern Illinois 25, Indiana State 16
The fourth set stayed close early until SIU broke away at 9-7, stringing together two small service runs to build an 18-9 lead. Holland sparked a brief rally with a four-point service run to make it 21-15, but the Salukis regained control and claimed the set by winning four of the final five points.
 
Set 5 | Southern Illinois 15, Indiana State 12
The decisive set featured three lead changes and six ties. Indiana State held the early edge before SIU swung ahead at 3-3. A Robart kill tied the set up at 6-6 and the Sycamores held the lead until the Salukis pulled another tie at 11-11. Southern Illinois then closed the match with a four-point service run to secure the 15-12 win.
 
News and Notes

• With 196 attempts, that is the most attempts for the Sycamores all season
  • It was previously set on September 19 in the win over Chattanooga with a 188 
• The Sycamores scored their most kills in a loss with 62
  • This is also the most kills in a game since October 24 at Drake 
• With 82 digs in the match, this was the most for the Sycamores in a loss all season 
• The Sycamores' 60 assists were the most since August 29 in the win vs SIUE 
• The Salukis' .196 hitting percentage is the lowest an opponent has hit against the Sycamores since August 29 vs. Bellarmine 
• The Sycamores had two double-doubles tonight 
  • Kira Holland had a Kills-Digs with (25K, 14D), the first since October 24 at Drake 
  • Avery Hales had an Assist-Digs with (26A, 15D), the first since Emily Weber's on October 14 vs Evansville 
• The Sycamores had two players with 25+ assists for the first time since September 11, 2021, vs Austin Peay (Hales 26, Weber 25) 
• Two Sycamores recorded 15+ kills for the first time since September 19 vs Chattanooga (Holland 25, Kendall 15) 
• The Sycamores had four players record 10+ digs for the first time since October 3 at Southern Illinois (Lengacher 23, Hales 19, Holland 14, Robart 12) 
  • They also had two players record 15+ digs for the first time since October 4 at Evansville 
• This is the first match that a player has had 3+ aces in since September 19 vs Chattanooga (Robart 3) 
• Curry Kendall had a season high of 15 kills and 40 attacks 
  • She also tied her career high in block assists with three
•  Holland recorded her 11th double-double of the season 
  • This is the 5th time this season that she has had 20+ kills 
• Macy Lengacher set both a season and MVC high with 23 digs 
  • She also set a new career high with seven assists 
• Hales recorded her 6th double-double of the season
  • Her 15 digs is also a new career high  
• Taylor Knuth set a season high in block assists with two 
• Kimora Whetstone recorded her 5th straight game hitting .200-or-better, hitting .250 tonight 

 
Up Next
The Sycamores close out regular season action, Saturday, November 15, as they welcome Drake into the Hulman Center, where they will honor their seniors, Cadence Gilley, Emily Weber, and Kimora Whetstone.