TERRE HAUTE —
A 1-6 start and a last-place finish in your own tournament may not look like a promising start for the Indiana State volleyball season, but Sycamore senior Shea Doran — and more importantly, the performance of Doran and her teammates — indicated that it was Sunday afternoon in the ISU Arena.
ISU had a miserable start Sunday against Western Illinois — the Drury Inn Jessica Barkman Memorial Classic champion — and played uphill the rest of the day, but looked like the stronger team in all but the final moments of the last four sets of a 25-14, 25-23, 16-25, 19-25, 17-15 loss.
The Leathernecks had already beaten the two teams in the tournament — Loyola and SIU-Edwardsville — that had beaten the Sycamores, and Sunday’s first set showed why. ISU had no answers for the WIU attack and tournament MVP Samantha Fournier, the visitors posting a .682 hitting percentage for the set.
In the second set — a pivotal one, it turned out — the home team started defending. With Ashlen Buck leading the way, the rallies got longer and the Sycamores won some key points, but Western got four of the set’s last five to take a 2-0 lead.
Rather than be discouraged, however, the home team went to work, starting with a 9-0 run for a 10-1 lead to start the third set. When the Sycamores won that one and shook off a late Leatherneck rally to hang onto a fourth-set win, ISU had the momentum, and rallied from 0-3 to take a 7-5 lead in the decisive fifth set.
Doran’s bid for a service ace at that point just missed the back line, and a similar serve by Western’s Katie Hosteng hit the back line for her own ace. Instead of a 9-5 lead, ISU was now tied 7-7.
The Sycamores were still up 10-9 when Western scored three straight points. ISU tied the score at 13 and fought off two match points, but never got ahead again.
“We let our little mistakes build up,” Doran said after the match in trying to explain the first-set woes, “but we never, ever gave up.”
“This group is still learning how to play together. There are going to be some growing pains,” added coach Traci Dahl. “We’re still looking a different people in different positions, but every game we’re getting better.”
“I think this is the best start we’ve ever had,” insisted Doran. “We might not be getting wins, but we’re learning a lot. The freshmen [there are four of them on the court at the same time occasionally] are hard-working, and they add a lot to what we already have.”
The 6-foot-3 Doran, whose offense was the early bright spot, finished with 19 kills and 1.5 blocks but also had nine digs, two assists and a pair of aces, and stayed on the court for back-row play throughout the last three sets.
“I feel if I stay in [the match], my rhythm is better,” she said afterward. “Even though I don’t look like a back-row player, I feel I can contribute.”
Buck had 20 digs, Loni Mackinson 51 assists, freshman Victoria Swigart 14 kills and nine digs and Molly Murphy 13 kills and 13 digs for the Sycamores. Dahl was particularly happy about Swigart’s match — “She did a great job; she added something in the front row and the back row,” the coach said — and the production of Buck.
“Ashlen Buck is doing really well,” she said of the 2012 Northview graduate. “There’s a learning curve with her, but there’s a learning curve with everybody.”
Now the Sycamores — who are playing without injured Morgan Dall, last year’s Missouri Valley Conference leader in kills per set — have one more weekend tournament before beginning MVC play.
“It’s not going to be easy, because we’re pretty young,” Dahl said. “but we’ve got some pretty good athletes.
“We need to be really good in two weeks … and we need another win under our belts to move on from there.”
n Good Irish name — Both Indiana State and Western Illinois had a Molly Murphy playing regularly on Sunday. That was a little bit confusing, but probably not nearly as confusing as it was when they were playing together as teammates at Chicago Marist High School.
Western Illinois 25 25 16 19 17
Indiana State 14 23 25 25 15
Hitting percentage — WIU .203, ISU .166
Kills — WIU 55 (Samantha Fournier 21, Katie Hosteng 15), ISU 57 (Shea Doran 19, Victoria Swigart 14, Molly Murphy 13).
Assists — WIU 50 (Sarah Fetter 44), ISU 55 (Loni Mackinson 51).
Digs — WIU 64 (Bridget Murphy 17, Fetter 12, Molly Murphy 10), ISU 66 (Ashlen Buck 20, Molly Murphy 13, Mackinson 11).
Blocks — WIU 6 (Hosteng 3), ISU 7 (Kyla Thomas 2.5, Cassandra Willis 2).
Next — Indiana State (1-6) plays Miami of Ohio on Friday in the first of three matches at the Miami Tournament. Western Illinois is 3-3.
Drury Inn Jessica Barkman
Memorial Classic
All-Tournament Team
Samantha Fournier, Western Illinois, MVP
Kelsey Augustine, SIU-Edwardsville
Shea Doran, Indiana State
Anna Eytchison, Loyola of Chicago
Katie Hosteng, Western Illinois
Bridget Murphy, Western Illinois
Kristen Torre, SIU-Edwardsville
Sports
Sycamores bounce back from deficit, but can’t win
- Sports
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Two in one: Golfer Brian Brown watches his drive fly towards the second hole at Mark's Par Three golf course on Tuesday. Brown recently hit two holes in one in a week at the course.
-
Hughes, News & Views: Terre Haute ‘hacker' accomplishes Mark’s Par Three first
It’s no secret that Mark’s Par Three is not the most difficult golf course in Vigo County.
But it’s enjoyable for beginners and golfers of modest skill levels and it doesn’t lack for activity during warm-weather months.
Open since 1964, it’s had its fair share of players test their skills, probably several better than 43-year-old Brian Brown of Terre Haute. -
Prettyman getting comfortable as boss
At first glance, it would be easy to look at first-year Terre Haute Rex manager Ronnie Prettyman and expect him to have a difficult journey during his maiden voyage as a baseball manager.
Managing in the Prospect League isn’t the easiest job in the world.
Rosters change constantly, especially early in the season when players are still reporting from their college teams. The travel is arduous — a night game in far-off Quincy, Ill., could be followed by a home game, followed by a game at equally far-off Hannibal, Mo. The players have to acclimate themselves to playing every day after having played a maximum of five games a week at the college level. -
Metro roundup: ISU’s Gant to go to Africa with Athletes in Action
Indiana State junior Justin Gant has been invited to travel to the Ivory Coast this summer as part of an Athletes In Action basketball tour.
“I am extremely honored to be given this opportunity to not only play basketball with and against some great players during this tour, but to also share my Christian faith with those in the Ivory Coast,” Gant commented. “I’m looking forward to growing as a person by delivering aid to those in Africa and by sharing my faith with those we come in contact with. This will also be a great chance to continue to improve on the basketball court just before we start our workouts at Indiana State in the fall.” -
Loss drops Rex into first-place tie
In a battle for first place in the West Division of the Prospect League baseball standings, the Terre Haute Rex fell just short Monday night at Bob Warn Field.
-
Seven players from Terre Haute Rex taken in Major League draft
Seven players who are alumni of the Terre Haute Rex in the past four years achieved their dream of becoming professional baseball players when taken in the Major League Baseball draft earlier this month.
-
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Catching up on some things
Catching up — on all-state softball honors and a new basketball coach in Illinois.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Hutson comes home, has personal best
Kylie Hutson returned to her home town Saturday to set a personal outdoor record, clearing 15-feet-5 in highlighting the Sycamore Open pole vault competition at Marks Field.
-
Checking in with cancer survivor
The last time the Tribune-Star visited with Amy Bagnoche, July of 2012, she was fighting back tears talking about her own battle with breast cancer and the battles that others were facing.
-
Post 346 rebounds to win Terre Haute Invitational
It’s an interesting dance that Wayne Newton Post 346 and Evansville Pate Post 265 have developed in American Legion baseball’s Terre Haute Invitational, and the last waltz was saved for the host team Sunday.
-
DeNato proves IU can pitch too
Joey DeNato dispelled the notion that College World Series newcomer Indiana is all about offense.
The junior left-hander threw a four-hitter and the Hoosiers looked mighty comfortable at TD Ameritrade Park while beating Louisville 2-0 on Saturday night.
-
Hughes, News & Views: Terre Haute ‘hacker' accomplishes Mark’s Par Three first
- Local Interest
-
Score: Post 346 runner #6 Jacob Johnson scores after a collision with the Pate catcher in the fourth inning Sunday afternoon.
-
Post 346 rebounds to win Terre Haute Invitational
It’s an interesting dance that Wayne Newton Post 346 and Evansville Pate Post 265 have developed in American Legion baseball’s Terre Haute Invitational, and the last waltz was saved for the host team Sunday.
-
METRO ROUNDUP: Wayne Newton 2-1 on young season
Wayne Newton Post 346 improved to 2-1 in American Legion baseball with a late 8-3 victory over Effingham on Thursday night.
Craig Peters was winning pitcher for Post 346 and T.J. Decker and Cody Thornton led a 16-hit attack with three hits each. -
Rex looking to return to pitching dominance Sunday against Springfield
During a 7-1 start and franchise-best seven-game winning streak, Terre Haute Rex pitching was the catalyst. Through eight games, the Rex led the Prospect League with an earned-run average of 1.11.
Even after giving up 10 runs Friday night in a 10-6 loss to the Quincy Gems, the Rex (7-2) are still the league leader in ERA at 2.09. -
FROM TERRE HAUTE TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES: Former Scamore hurlers doing well in White Sox system
Brian Omogrosso was promoted to Chicago and appeared in 11 games. The big right-hander compiled a 5.14 earned-run average in 14 innings of relief. He struck out 14 and walked seven.
- COLLEGE REPORT: Wabash College All-American relay team has TH flavor
-
Post 346 rebounds to win Terre Haute Invitational
- High School
-
-
Goatee, Bertoli ran away with Spring Athlete of the Year
When honoring athletes after a season of excellence, the phrase “what might have been” doesn’t usually come up.
But in the case of Terre Haute South’s Jackson Bertoli and Terre Haute North’s TaPring Goatee – the Tribune-Star’s Athletes of the Year for spring sports – there’s an air of unfinished business despite obvious recent successes.
- Post 346 opens tournament with two victories
- North boys move up to 13th in golf state finals
- Big hill to climb for North golf
- Top of her game
-
- College
-
Indiana starting pitcher Joey DeNato (23) celebrates throwing out Louisville's Coco Johnson (20) at first for the second out in the bottom of the ninth inning in an NCAA College World Series game in Omaha, Neb., Saturday, June 15, 2013 (AP Photo/The World-Herald, Ryan Soderlin) MAGS OUT; ALL NEBRASKA LOCAL BROADCAST TV OUT
-
DeNato proves IU can pitch too
Joey DeNato dispelled the notion that College World Series newcomer Indiana is all about offense.
The junior left-hander threw a four-hitter and the Hoosiers looked mighty comfortable at TD Ameritrade Park while beating Louisville 2-0 on Saturday night. -
Etherington, Moore happy to be with ISU basketball
Not even two weeks into their college experience, Indiana State freshmen men’s basketball players Alex Etherington and Demetrius Moore stood sentinel as 115 kids ran around them collecting basketballs and getting autographs at the Greg Lansing Basketball Camp on Thursday.
-
ISU's Johnson invited to World University Games
Indiana State senior Felisha Johnson will be traveling the world this summer after being named to represent the United States in the women’s shot put at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia.
-
FROM THE PRESS BOX: Close, but no cigar, theme for ISU sports in 2012-13
When I covered my first event of Indiana State’s 2012-13 season — ISU’s opening football game at Indiana — I was the first one in the press box at IU’s Memorial Stadium. I’m never the first one in the press box.
Maybe the prospect of ISU’s season had me so pumped that I decided to get it started close to three hours early? (Or more truthfully, maybe I was over-vigilent about predicted traffic horrors on the Indiana 46 bypass that never came to pass.) -
Q&A: ISU football coach Mike Sanford ready for fall
It’s hard to believe, but Mike Sanford has already been Indiana State’s football coach for six months.
Time flies, but Sanford’s task of preparing for his first season in charge of the Sycamores comes with few breaks.
-
DeNato proves IU can pitch too
- Sports Columns
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Two in one: Golfer Brian Brown watches his drive fly towards the second hole at Mark's Par Three golf course on Tuesday. Brown recently hit two holes in one in a week at the course.
-
Hughes, News & Views: Terre Haute ‘hacker' accomplishes Mark’s Par Three first
It’s no secret that Mark’s Par Three is not the most difficult golf course in Vigo County.
But it’s enjoyable for beginners and golfers of modest skill levels and it doesn’t lack for activity during warm-weather months.
Open since 1964, it’s had its fair share of players test their skills, probably several better than 43-year-old Brian Brown of Terre Haute. - RAMBLIN’ RECK: Catching up on some things
- TODD GOLDEN: Golf ... the beast within?
- Trackside: Midgets could be on rise in Wabash Valley
- RAMBLIN’ RECK: South grad helps VU to national golf title
-
Hughes, News & Views: Terre Haute ‘hacker' accomplishes Mark’s Par Three first
- Pro Sports
-
-
Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has quickly earned a reputation as someone who isn’t afraid to shake things up a bit.
- Deacon Jones of famed Fearsome Foursome dead at 74
- Seeking elite status
- Luck having fun with his first OTAs
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
-
Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
- Terre Haute Rex
-
-
Prettyman getting comfortable as boss
At first glance, it would be easy to look at first-year Terre Haute Rex manager Ronnie Prettyman and expect him to have a difficult journey during his maiden voyage as a baseball manager.
Managing in the Prospect League isn’t the easiest job in the world.
Rosters change constantly, especially early in the season when players are still reporting from their college teams. The travel is arduous — a night game in far-off Quincy, Ill., could be followed by a home game, followed by a game at equally far-off Hannibal, Mo. The players have to acclimate themselves to playing every day after having played a maximum of five games a week at the college level. - Loss drops Rex into first-place tie
- Sliders’ frustration against Rex continues
- Sanchez stays hot to lead Rex to victory
- Rex fall at home to Sliders
-
Prettyman getting comfortable as boss
- Colts
-
-
Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
Indianapolis Colts second-year general manager Ryan Grigson has quickly earned a reputation as someone who isn’t afraid to shake things up a bit.
- Landry believes he'll acclimate to Colts system
- Colts in harmony with new coordinator Hamilton
- Pagano amazed by collection of veterans
- Opening Day: Terre Haute Rex host Quincy
-
Colts not standing pat in looking toward 2013 season
- Auto Racing
-
Winner's kiss: Tony Kanaan of KV Racing Technology kisses the yard of bricks at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. Kanaan won his first Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on Sunday and kissed the bricks as part of a tradition at the Motor Speedway.
-
Kanaan can: Tony Kanaan finally wins Indy 500, ends heartbreak
Tony Kanaan had been so close so many times in the Indianapolis 500 until Sunday. Now he’s a winner.
- Crowd, competitors erupt in celebration for Brazilian driver
- Rookies fare well in 97th running of the Indy 500
- Top guns, again
- Looking for Indy breakthrough, Kanaan enjoying role as team mentor
-
Kanaan can: Tony Kanaan finally wins Indy 500, ends heartbreak





