Terre Haute, Ind. – Indiana State volleyball opened play at the Hulman Center with a three-set loss to Montana (23-25, 23-25, 19-25).
 
The Sycamores were led offensively by Kira Holland with 12 kills, while Ella Scott, Ava Robart, and Kimora Whetstone combined for 27 kills. On the defensive side, Whetstone added four blocks, Hadley Hardersen tallied 11 digs, and Chloe Gilley chipped in 10 digs.
 
Set 1 | Montana 25, Indiana State 23
The Sycamores battled in a tightly contested opener. Montana jumped out to a 4-1 lead before Indiana State answered with a run to close within one at 5-4. The set featured seven lead changes as both teams struggled to string together more than four points at a time. Ultimately, Montana held on, closing with a two-point run to take the set, 25-23.
 
Set 2 | Montana 25, Indiana State 23
Montana started strong again, racing out to a 3-0 advantage. Indiana State continued to fight back, chipping away at the deficit, but was never able to claim the lead. Much like the first frame, neither team managed to pull away, but a late Sycamore service error sealed the 25-23 win for the Grizzlies.
 
Set 3 | Montana 25, Indiana State 19
The Grizzlies found their rhythm in the final set, hitting .600 with 14 kills, nearly tripling their first set hitting percentage. Indiana State responded with 17 kills of its own, led by Scott (5), Whetstone (4), and Emily Weber (3). The Sycamores stayed close early, trailing just 10-8, but Montana surged ahead with a 9-2 run to extend the lead to 19-10 and carried the momentum to a 25-19 match-clinching victory.
 
Terre Haute, Ind. – Indiana State volleyball finished off play at the Hulman Center with a four-set victory over the previously-undefeated Eastern Illinois Panthers (25-18, 21-25, 25-22, 25-12).
 
The Sycamores were led by Kira Holland, who turned in a standout performance with 21 kills and 14 digs. Curry Kendall, Ava Robart, and Kimora Whetstone combined for 26 kills, while Whetstone and Ella Scott added four blocks apiece. Chloe Gilley paced the defense with 17 digs, while Holland added 14 and Avery Hales chipped in 10.
 
Set 1 | Indiana State 25, Eastern Illinois 18
Indiana State came out firing, jumping to an 11-3 lead behind kills from Kendall, Scott, and Whetstone, along with three blocks from Whetstone and an ace from Macy Lengacher. The Sycamores extended the lead to 18-7 with strong offensive play, including three kills from Holland. Eastern Illinois cut the deficit to 23-18 late, but Indiana State closed out the set, 25-18.
 
Set 2 | Eastern Illinois 25, Indiana State 21
The second set was tightly contested, with neither team pulling ahead by more than three until a 17-17 tie. Eastern Illinois capitalized on three Indiana State hitting errors to build a 21-17 advantage. The Sycamores responded with a kill from Kendall and rallied to within 22-21, but the Panthers closed with a three-point run to even the match at one set apiece.
 
Set 3 | Indiana State 25, Eastern Illinois 22
Eastern Illinois opened with a 2-0 lead before Indiana State battled back to tie things at 8-8. The Sycamores gained separation midway through the set, taking a 15-12 edge behind kills from Whetstone (2) and Holland. The Panthers clawed back within one at 17-16, but Indiana State held steady. With the score tied at 21-all, the Sycamores surged ahead and secured the frame, 25-22.
 
Set 4 | Indiana State 25, Eastern Illinois 12
The Sycamores controlled the final set from start to finish. After an early 4-1 lead, Eastern Illinois briefly surged ahead 6-4 before Indiana State answered with a 10-3 run to take command at 14-9. Behind strong play from Holland and Kendall at the net, the Sycamores extended the lead to 19-10 and never looked back. Eastern Illinois added just two more points as Indiana State closed the match on a four-point run, securing the set 25-12 and the 3-1 victory.
 
In the final set, Holland accounted for nine kills with eight coming between points eight through 23. In the span, she recorded a 9-0-18 line (.571), adding in a block.

Combined News & Notes

• The Sycamores set a new team-high 11 total blocks against Eastern Illinois.
• The Sycamore defense held the Panthers to a .082 hitting percentage, the second-best effort of the season.
  • In the last three matches (Merrimack, Montana, Eastern Illinois), opponents are hitting .115 against Indiana State.
• Ella Scott set a new season high with 11 kills hitting .579 (11-0-19), also her best hitting percentage this season (against Montana).
• Curry Kendall set a new season high with 10 kills hitting .214 (10-4-28) (against EIU).
• Kira Holland set a new season high with 21 kills hitting .246 (21-7-57); this tied her career high set against Southern Illinois on October 27, 2023 (against EIU).
• Kimora Whetstone tied her season high with four blocks (against Montana), then she turned around against EIU and set a new high with six.
  • She tied her season high in kills with 8 (against EIU).
  • She has three games of the eight this season hitting better than .450.
• Ava Robart set a new season high with 4 block assists.
• Hadley Hardersen recorded her fourth-straight match with at least 10 digs (against Montana).
• Avery Hales tied her season high in assists with 19 (against EIU).

Up Next
Indiana State will finish the second day of the first Refreshment Services Pepsi Sycamores Volleyball Invite tomorrow, Sept. 13 at the Hulman Center. The Sycamores will take on Butler with a start time of 7 p.m. ET.
 
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