DEKALB, Ill. – Indiana State volleyball won their lone match on Saturday afternoon against Merrimack College in the NIU Invitational, sweeping the Warriors in straight sets. The Sycamores moved to 2-4 in their young season.
 
Kira Holland led the Trees in kills with 16 (16-3-36, .361), accounting for 47% of the team's kills, also adding in four digs and two aces. Ella Scott finished with six kills (6-2-12, .333) with three blocks, two digs, and a pair of aces. Emily Weber (19) and Avery Hales (9) combined for all but one assist recorded in the match, while defensively Hadley Hardersen led in digs with 19. Chloe Gilley finished with four aces, and Hardersen with three.
 
Set 1 | Indiana State 25, Merrimack 6
The Sycamores pounced on the Warriors early and never looked back. Indiana State quickly grew the lead to 9-3 from two aces by Scott and four Sycamores all recording a kill, forcing a timeout by MC. Indiana State kept the momentum, finishing the set on a 16-3 run. The Sycamores forced Merrimack to a .-143 hitting percentage in the set, while the Trees hit .409, including a .556 effort (5-0-9) from Holland.
 
Set 2 | Indiana State 25, Merrimack 21
The second set was much closer, but only towards the end. Indiana State once again grew the lead up to 12-5. Back-to-back kills by Holland followed a big stuff by Kimora Whetstone and Weber, then the Trees' defense forced three-straight errors by MC – including a block by Scott – to take that lead. Merrimack held onto a three- or four-point deficit until pulling within one, 19-18. Kills from Weber, Holland, and Scott helped close out the set and take the Sycamores into set three ahead in the match, 2-0.
 
Set 3 | Indiana State 25, Merrimack 10
It was Merrimack that took control early in the third set, going up 4-0 from three kills and an ace. Indiana State scored four straight courtesy of kills from Holland and Scott and a Holland ace, but the Warriors continued to hold the lead until Indiana State took control with a 10-9 advantage.
 
From there, Indiana State dominated the rest of the set. The Sycamores outscored the Warriors 15-1 to close the match, including capping the match with 10-straight points to take the victory. From points 11 through 20 in set three, Holland accounted for six points (all kills), while Gilley served up three aces in the final six points of the match, including a match-winning ace for the final point.
 
Indiana State once again hit better than .400 in the set (.407) with Holland finishing with seven kills (7-0-12, .583).
 
News & Notes

• The Trees recorded 13 aces in the match, tying for the most since November 10, 2023 against Murray State.
• The Sycamores finished with the second-best hitting percentage of the young season (.261) but one shy of tying for the fewest kills (34).
• The Sycamore defense allowed:
  • 19 kills allowed – fewest of the season and the fewest since November 11, 2015 against UT-Martin (13).
  • Only 24 total points by Merrimack, the fewest amount of opponent points in a match since the same UT-Martin game in 2015.
  • A -.044 opponent hitting percentage. The last time an opponent had a negative hitting percentage was September 17, 2021 (at Eastern Illinois, -.094.)
• Kira Holland surpassed the 500-kill mark in her collegiate career. She sits at 505 total kills entering next weekend.
  • Holland has finished in double digits in the kills category in all but the first match of the season (she finished with nine) with 16 in today's match.
• Ella Scott continued her block streak, recording three in today's match. She has at least three blocks in all six matches this season.
  • She is up to 21 total blocks with 10 block solos.
  • Scott moved over 200 total blocks in her career, ending the weekend at 205.
• Chloe Gilley tied Ava Robart for the most service aces in a single match with four today. That is a new career high for the sophomore.
• Hadley Hardersen has recorded double-digit digs in four-of-six matches this season with a new high of 19 in today's match.

 
Up Next
Indiana State returns to Terre Haute next weekend to host the Refreshment Services Pepsi Sycamores Volleyball Invite on September 12-13. The tournament includes Montana, Eastern Illinois, and Butler. See the full schedule and information here.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Volleyball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.