MEMPHIS, TENN. ?
For the second straight match, the Sycamores found themselves down 0-2 after the first two sets but fought back to win the next two and even the match. However, this time, the fifth set magic eluded Indiana State, but just barely, as the Sycamores fell to the Iona College Gaels 3-2 in their second match of the Tiger Invitational hosted by the University of Memphis.
It was the first time this season that the Sycamores have dropped a five-set match after defeating Lipscomb and Western Illinois at the Morehead State Invitational last weekend, and the Troy Trojans earlier in the day at the Tiger Invitational.
The Sycamores are now 4-3 on the season and will play two more matches on Saturday. Indiana State will take on the Memphis Tigers at 12:30 p.m. (ET) and then go against the IUPUI Jaguars at 5:30 p.m. (ET).
Junior Whitney Fromm set a new career high with 61 set assists in the loss Friday to Iona while also recording 19 digs and two blocks. Junior Jodi Stoker led Indiana State in kills with 23 while junior Kelli Whitaker had 18 and junior Sarah Agnich 12.
Senior Kristy Cox led the Sycamores in digs with 22. Whitaker and freshman Kiya James had 13 each with senior Stephanie Meier getting 11 and Stoker 10.
There were a total of 30 ties and 12 lead changes throughout the five-set match. The Sycamores finished with a .218 hitting percentage while Iona was at .240.
The match was tied just twice in the first set as Iona took the early lead and never trailed. The Sycamores rallied to tie the set at eight on a pair of Volden kills and one from Whitaker. But Iona surged back in front and stayed there until Indiana State rallied once more. Stoker tied the match at 20 with a kill off a set by Fromm but the Gaels scored five of the next six points to take a 25-21 win.
The second set was not much different than the first except that the Sycamores took a brief lead early in the set. Iona jumped out to a 3-0 lead but Indiana State rallied and moved in front 6-5 after three Stoker kills. Iona regained the lead but had to hold off a furious Sycamore rally in the final stages to post a 25-22 win.
As in the match against Troy earlier in the day, the Sycamores found themselves down 2-0 going into the third set. Indiana State rallied from a 4-3 deficit with three straight points, two off of service aces by James. The Sycamores ran out to a 15-6 lead midway through the set and picked up the much needed win on a Whitaker kill, 25-17.
It was a battle royal in the fourth set as neither the Sycamores or Gaels would give an inch. There were 12 ties and three lead changes during the set but it looked like Indiana State would claim an easy win after going up 20-14. However, Iona would not go away, rallying to tie the match at 24 and again at 25 before the Sycamores were able to seal the win, 27-25, on a block by Fromm and Volden.
In the previous three five-set matches for the Sycamores, Indiana State was able to jump out in front and cruised to victory. That was not the case against Iona. The set was tied eight times as one team would surge ahead only to have the other team come back.
The Sycamores were able to rally for a 12-11 lead late in the set off of two Stoker kills and one by Agnich. Iona came back with two straight points but Stoker tied the set at 13 with a kill. That was the last point scored for the Sycamores as Iona connected on the final two to hand the Sycamores a 15-13 setback in the set and a 3-2 loss in the match.
