MOREHEAD, KY. ?
For the first time in four years, the Indiana State University volleyball team has a winning streak going. The Sycamores won their second match of the season Saturday, defeating Western Illinois in five sets 25-15, 20-25, 25-19, 22-25, and 15-5.
The Sycamores finish the Comfort Inn & Suites Invitational, hosted by Morehead State University, with a 2-1 record. Indiana State opened tournament play on Friday with a four set loss to the host Morehead State Eagles (19-25, 25-23, 21-25, 14-25) in the first match but then defeated Lipscomb in five sets (25-18, 15-25, 24-26, 25-22, 16-14)
The two match winning streak is the first time since the Sycamores defeated Drake 3-0 (Nov. 19) and Creighton 3-1 (Nov. 20) in the ISU Arena back in 2004. The last time Indiana State has won two straight on the road was even earlier in 2004 when the Sycamores won the Central Michigan Invitational with three straight wins (Sept. 3-4), defeating IUPUI 3-1, Central Michigan 3-2, and Wisconsin-Green Bay 3-0.
It was a thrilling moment for first year Indiana State volleyball coach Traci Dahl as the Sycamores posted a thrilling 3-2 victory over Lipscomb in their second match of the Comfort Inn & Suites Invitational hosted by Morehead State University Friday.
The Sycamores (2-1) will travel to Louisville, Ky., this afternoon for their final match of the weekend as they take on the Cardinals of Louisville at 7 p.m. The Sycamores will then return home to host Eastern Illinois University at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the ISU Arena.
Junior Whitney Fromm had a career, and season high, 60 assists in the match with three kills, two service aces and seven digs. Junior Jodilynn Stoker had a career high 20 kills to go along with 14 digs while junior Stephanie Volden had a career high 16 kills. Senior Kristy Cox had 17 digs.
The Sycamores trailed early in the first set but a six point run pushed Indiana State to a 9-5 lead and ISU would not trail again. Backed by three Jodi Stoker kills, the Sycamores scored 11 of the last 14 points to pull out a 25-16 win.
The second set was tight throughout but Indiana State never had the lead. The Sycamores trailed 7-5 when Western Illinois scored four straight and the Westerwinds controlled the set from that point on, posting a 25-20 win.
There were seven ties and three lead changes in the third set as both teams sought to get an advantage heading into the fourth set. The Sycamores were able to take advantage of a Westerwinds service error with the score tied at 14, scoring four straight points to take an 18-14 advantage. Indiana State was able to hold on to post a 25-19 win and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
The fourth set was all Western Illinois as the Westerwinds broke away from a 5-all tie and went in front for good. The Sycamores were never more than five points behind and closed to within two, 22-20, off a kill by Kristen Hunt. Stephanie Volden kept the Sycamores close with a pair of kills but WIU was able to hold off for a 25-22 win and even the match at 2-all.
The fifth set was all Indiana State. Kelli Whitaker had two kills with Volden and Kristen Kerscher getting one each as the Sycamores rolled to an 8-0 lead. Indiana State was never threatened in the fifth with Whitaker sealing the set 15-5 win and the 3-2 match victory with a kill off a set by Whitney Fromm.
