TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State volleyball begins a four-match homestand, its longest of the season, Tuesday night when it faces in-state rival Evansville for a 6 p.m. first serve inside ISU Arena.
 
Tuesday's match, which is also the Sycamores' Blackout Cancer match in partnership with State Dance Marathon, will be aired on ESPN+
 
Last Time Out
Saturday's in-state showdown between Indiana State and Valparaiso turned into a marathon inside the Athletics-Recreation Center, with the Sycamores coming from behind to prevail over the Beacons in five sets (25-22, 4-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-13). The win was the second in conference play for the Sycamores, both of which have been five-set road contests featuring a comeback from the Blue and White. Indiana State overcame dropping the second set by a lopsided 25-4 margin to snap its five-match losing streak. Kira Holland led the Sycamores with 15 kills and 13 digs, notching her fifth straight double-double while tying for the most kills among players from either team. Taylor Knuth added 10 kills, her most in a conference match, while Hadley Hardersen dished out a career-high 37 assists.
 
Holland led all players with 13 kills and 13 digs Friday night inside Credit Union 1 Arena, but homestanding UIC eked out a narrow three-set win over Indiana State (25-22, 25-21, 26-24). Ella Scott added 10 kills for the Trees, her most in conference play this season, while hitting a season-high .563. Lily Mueller led all players with five block assists, while Chloe Gilley (nine) and Macy Lengacher (eight) combined for 17 digs between the duo.
 
Streak Snapped
Indiana State ended a five-match losing streak in its last outing, rallying from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Valparaiso on the road. It was the Sycamores' first win in Valparaiso since the 2020-21 season and also snapped a five-match losing streak to the Beacons in the process.
 
Saturday's win over Valparaiso featured a statistical anomaly, as the Sycamores claimed the match despite losing the second set by a lopsided 25-4 scoreline. Indiana State is the only Division I team to win a match this season after scoring less than five points in a set, and became the first team to win a match after scoring four or fewer points in a set since August 27, 2022, when Nicholls accomplished the feat against Central Michigan.
 
Return To Sender
Indiana State's block has steadily improved in recent weeks, with the Sycamores averaging two blocks per set over the course of their last six matches. The Blue and White have been tied or ahead in blocks in five of those matches, including each of the last four, despite facing three of the top five blocking teams during MVC play in UIC, Bradley and Drake.
 
The Sycamores' middle blockers have played a significant role in the steady improvement at the net for the Trees, with Lily Mueller (0.92) and Ella Scott (0.81) both ranking in the top 20 in the MVC for blocks per set during conference play.
 
Long Haul
Indiana State is no stranger to going the distance in 2026, with the Sycamores already playing in seven five-set matches this season. The Trees have fared well in those five-setters, going 5-2 in matches that have required the winner-take-all set, with Indiana State's five five-set wins this season tied with Drake for the most in the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
The Sycamores have become accustomed to comeback wins in five sets this season, with four of their five five-set wins coming after facing a 2-1 deficit. Indiana State is also nearing its 2013 program record for five-set matches in a season during the rally scoring era, when the Trees played in 10 five-setters.
 
Evansville At A Glance
Evansville enters the week at 4-18 overall and 1-9 in conference play. The Purple Aces are seeking to snap a seven-match losing streak, with their last win coming October 2 at Murray State.
 
Lyla Fisher and Wren Jones both have more than 200 kills this season, while Savannah Gogel average more than one block per set. Carsyn Kelley has averaged nearly nine assists per set this year.
 
Series History vs. Evansville
Indiana State is 49-39 all-time against Evansville, though the Purple Aces won both meetings last season. The Sycamores have been dominant at home in the series, owning a 30-13 record in matches played in Terre Haute.
 
Up Next
Indiana State plays host to Northern Iowa Friday night for its Volloween match at 6 p.m. Fans are highly encouraged to come dressed in costumes for a chance to win a $50 gift card.

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.