Illinois State got a 21-kill, .567 hitting percentage perforamnce from Emily Kabbes and a career-high 20 kills from Savannah Knowles, but it wasn't enough to stave off a determined Indiana State team led by Kylee Osborne with 27 kills as Indiana State won the match 31-33, 30-21, 26-30, 30-25, 15-12 Saturday at ISU Arena.
Illinois State, 5-10, 0-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference, got 15 kills from Laura Doornbos and 17 digs from Paige White, in the match which the Redbirds led 2-1 in games and then, after Indiana State won game four, Illinois State led 6-1 in game five before the Sycamores rushed back to win. That fifth game was tied 8-8, 9-9 and 10-10 before Kristin Widmar's solo block gave the Sycamores an 11-10 lead. Brittanie Stowell followed with a service ace and Indiana State was on its way to just its fourth win over the Redbirds in 38 matches all time.
After erasing a six-point Redbird lead in game one, the Sycamores rallied to serve three times for game point at 29-28, 30-29 and 31-30. Illinois State held-off that game point with kills by Doornbos, Ashley Grubb and Kabbes. The Redbirds put the game away on that Kabbes kill, her service ace and Knowles' kill for game point after a diving dig by Kabbes.
The Sycamores led 9-2 in game two and took advantage of .424 hitting in that game to square the match. As many problems as Illinois State had in game two, the Redbirds had solutions in game three. Doornbos lit the match with four service pionts, including two aces, to give the 'Birds a 7-1, lead. Indiana State responded, forging a 10-10 tie on Tessa Wolf's kill. Doornbos struck again with the Sycamores on top 13-12. Sher served six points in a row as the 'Birds took a 19-13 lead and held it despite more Sycamore challenges. Kabbes led the Redbird offense with eight kills in game three.
Indiana State rebounded in game four with some scrappy play, emerging from a 23-22 lead with three unanswered points for the cushion the home team needed.
Five more Doornbos service points put the 'Birds ahead 6-1 in game five, but Indiana State scored 14 of the last 20 points to give the 'Birds their fifth straight loss.
Illinois State takes a break from league play at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Redbird Arena, meeting DePaul.
