SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Indiana State volleyball takes a 2-1 record into the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational this weekend, playing in the Hammons Student Center from September 4-5.
 
The Sycamores open the two-day tournament with Northwestern State on September 4 at 10am CT, followed by Little Rock at 3:30pm CT. Friday's lone match is against the host, Missouri State, at 3pm CT.
 
The Tournament Field
Northwestern State holds a 1-3 record on the year, winning against Grambling 3-1. In their three losses, they've lost in straight sets (West Georgia, Presbyterian, and Louisiana-Monroe. The team is hitting .147 led by #17 Elsie Sanchez and #22 Olivia Nzioki each with 2.92 kills per set (tied at 35). They're followed closely by #6 Amber Craig (2.23 per set). Defensively, Nzioki (0.58) and #4 Kenadii Winfrey (0.55) are the only two above 0.50 block per set.
 
Little Rock is undefeated (3-0) in the early season, beating Houston Christian 3-2, Iona 3-0, and Louisiana Tech 3-0. The Trojans are hitting at a .220 clip with #14 Avery Fearnley finishing their opening tournament with 3.64 kills per set. Three others (Cree, Boyte, and Teel) are all above 2.0 per set. #12 Alyssa Boyte enters with 1.0 blocks per set, followed by #13 Morgan Creer and #17 Lorena Keselj each with 0.91 per set.
 
Missouri State holds a 1-2 record entering the tournament, beating Idaho State 3-0 in the opener before falling to Stephen F. Austin 3-2 and Wichita State 3-0. The Bears enter with a 2.11 hitting percentage, as #6 Halle Kerkman (3.50), #18 Hannah Gardner (3.36), and #16 Rilynn Finley (3.00) are all above three kills per set. Defensively, #1 Chloe Judd enters with 1.09 blocks per set. Gardner was selected to the CUSA All-Conference Preseason Team following an All-Freshman Team campaign last season.
 
The Trees Through Three
Kira Holland (2.64) and Ava Robart (2.55) came out of the Western Michigan Tournament leading the Sycamores in kills per set, with Curry Kendall just behind with 2.18 per set. Avery Hales and Hadley Hardersen split the setting duties as Hales leads with a total of 58 assists (5.27 per set) with Hardersen at 52 (4.73 per set). Hardersen adds in 1.64 kills per set, the team's second best in blocks per set at 0.82, and the third-best 2.00 digs per set.
 
Also on the defensive end, Emmy Sher leads with 3.73 digs per set, followed closely by Holland at 3.55 per set. Lily Mueller enters the weekend with 1.18 blocks per set.
 
As a team, the Sycamores enter the Friday matches with a .165 hitting percentage, 15.7 digs per set, and 2.2 blocks per set.

Up Next
Indiana State returns to Terre Haute for their home opener, with back-to-back matches against Milwaukee on Thursday, September 10 and Friday, September 11. Thursday's match begins at 6 p.m. ET while Friday will have a 5 p.m. ET first serve.
 
Follow the Sycamores
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