TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (February 22, 2021)
 
In Short
Elle Van Grinsven clubbed 10 kills, but host Indiana State (3-6, 3-5 MVC) hit .303 (45-9-119) as a team to claim a 25-15, 25-19, 25-15 decision over Loyola University Chicago (6-3, 5-3 MVC) this afternoon in the finale of a two-match series at ISU Arena. Loyola played without the services of key players who were sidelined with injuries – Addie Barnes, Taylor Venuto and Kelsey Watson. 
 
How It Happened
Indiana State hit .359 (16-2-39) and took control of the first set by scoring four unanswered points to snap a 3-3 stalemate and open up a 7-3 lead. The Sycamores would extend their advantage to 18-8 before Elle Van Grinsven cracked three kills in a 5-1 burst that cut the gap to 19-13, but that was as close as Loyola would get in a 25-15 setback.
 
Loyola staged an impressive comeback in the second set, only to see it ultimately fall short in a 25-19 defeat. An Anna Feldkamp kill gave Loyola a 6-5 edge early, but four straight Sycamore tallies were part of a larger 9-1 run that moved Indiana State on top, 14-7. The hosts were able to extend their leads to as many as 10 points (19-9) before the Ramblers stormed back to make it interesting. Two kills from Feldkamp and a kill and a block from Van Grinsven invigorated the Loyola attack and moved it within 21-17, but Indiana State fended off the hard-charging Ramblers to grab a 25-19 victory.
 
A 5-0 start gave the Sycamores control of set three from the opening serve and although Loyola got as close as 5-2, Indiana State pushed its lead back to five points. Later, a Feldkamp kill cut the gap to 11-7, but ISU reeled off seven unanswered points as its lead increased to 18-7 on the way to a 25-15 decision.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Taylor Shelton recorded 13 kills and 10 digs to lead Indiana State.
• Van Grinsven was the only Rambler in double figures in kills and the senior middle blocker hit .364 (10-2-22) for the match.
• Feldkamp totaled seven kills, Jenna Appel notched another double-double with 21 assists and 10 digs, and Grace Hinchman picked up 21 digs.

 
Up Next
Loyola returns to The Alfie Norville Practice Facility this weekend to take on Illinois State on February 28 and March 1.