Women’s volleyball 0-2 in conference weekend play, still advance to post-season tournament

ISU vs. Missouri State University

Indiana State women's volleyball fell short of a victory Friday night in the ISU Arena when they took on Missouri State University (MSU).  The Bears swept the Sycamores 0-3, final score 19-25, 19-25 and 26-28.

"I knew it was a big match because it could possibly determine if we are going to the tournament, so I feel like we were all mentally ready, but we just did not push enough," sophomore outside hitter Monique Morris said.      

ISU was first on the board for the night with a kill by senior middle blocker Stacy Qualizza, assisted by senior setter Shelbi Fouty.  The Bears fought back to tie the score at 3 and broke the tie to take the lead at 4-6.  With a kill by junior outside hitter Morgan Dall and a block from Dall and freshman middle blocker Samantha Kersting, the score tied at 7.  The score tied one last time at 8 before Missouri State got a big lead at 9-14.  ISU came within three at 12-15 but could not pass up the Bears.  An error from Missouri State ended the Sycamores' score at 19, and an error from ISU ended the set at 19-25, MSU.

Set two did not run in the Sycamore favor.  ISU started the set down 0-3 and could not gain the momentum they needed to pass up the Bears, but they did not give up.  Missouri State had the Sycamores' doubled at 7-14, but a MSU error followed by a kill from junior middle blocker Shea Doran, along with a three point rally, brought the Sycamores within four at 14-18.  A kill from Doran ended ISU's score at 19, and a kill from the Bears ended the set at 19-25, MSU.

Set three was a tight match, tying 15 times and having seven lead changes.  ISU put the first point on the board for the set with a kill from Morris.  The Sycamores had a set back when the Bears took a lead of 1-4, but ISU gained it back with a three point rally, followed by another three- point rally to bring the score to 9-7.  ISU fell behind again at 15-18, but a kill by Kersting, Dall and Doran, and a Bear error, put the score at 19-18.  The Bears came back to tie the score at 19, but the tie was broken by a four point rally by the Sycamores including a kill by Dall, a service ace by Dall and a kill by sophomore outside hitter Molly Murphy assisted by Fouty, bringing the score to 23-19.  ISU broke the last tie at 25, but could not hold on.  MSU finished out the set with a three-point rally ending the set at 26-28, MSU, and the game 3-0, Missouri State.

"We should have come out with a little more energy.  I feel like we picked it up at the end, but we were pretty neck and neck the whole game, so I mean, it was just big points that we lost," Morris said.    

Dall led the team in kills at 15, followed by Qualizza at 10.  Fouty led in assists with 34 and tied with the lead in digs at 15 with senior defensive specialist Kiya James.  

ISU vs. Wichita State University

ISU finished out their weekend in the ISU Arena Saturday night, senior night, against Wichita State University (WSU).  The Sycamores fell to the Shockers 0-3, final set scores 26-28, 18-25, and 13-25.

"Expectation is always to fight and to fight to win.  Wichita has a good team, top 50 in the nation, and we can't make the mistakes that we made against any team that is ranked that high up," Head Coach Traci Dahl said.

Set one was a close set, tying 14 times and having 8 lead changes.  WSU was first on the board for set one, and a kill by Qualizza started the Sycamores' score.  ISU took the biggest lead of the set after a Doran kill followed by a Morris kill, putting the Sycamores in the lead at 11-7.  WSU came back to tie the score at 13 then again at 14, and broke the last tie to take the lead at 16-14.  The set was a flip-flop battle, but a kill by Dall ended the Sycamores' score at 26, and an attack error by Doran ended the set at 26-28, WSU.