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Indiana State half match behind SIU after weekend split

On Nov. 12, SIU and Indiana State will meet in a match that could determine which team earns a ticket to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

Indiana State (4-7, 8-11) began the weekend one match behind SIU for sixth place in the conference, but is a half match back of the Salukis after splitting its matches with Bradley and Northern Iowa.

The Salukis' magic number for an MVC Tournament spot is eight, or seven, depending on the team chasing them. The magic number is the total number of SIU wins and an opponent's losses needed to secure a spot in the MVC Tournament.

For beating Indiana State, the magic number is eight, and because SIU has the tiebreaker over Evansville, the magic number for beating the Purple Aces is seven.

Indiana State swept its season series with Bradley with a 30-28, 31-29, 30-27 victory Friday. Senior Brittanie Stowell, who sat out the weekend of Oct. 15 because of injury, recorded 11 kills and hit a team-high .429.

But not even the 6-foot middle hitter could help snap a losing streak to UNI Saturday. The Panthers defeated Indiana State 30-17, 24-30, 30-17, 31-29 and have not lost to the Sycamores since 1997.

UNI hit .300 and .400 in game one and three, while holding Indiana State to -.139 and .065 attack percentages. The Sycamores jumped out to a 7-0 lead on UNI in game two, as the Panthers hit just .067.

Indiana State had a higher hitting percentage than the Panthers in game four and a 28-27 lead, but UNI scored four of the last five points to take the match.

"This was a match that we could have won," Indiana State head coach Julie Krofckeck said in a press release. "We didn't step up to the challenge."

The race for the final spot in the conference tournament is between SIU, Indiana State and Evansville.

SIU (4-6, 6-15) and Evansville (3-7, 10-12) were both idle last weekend, and the Sycamores moved a match ahead of the Purple Aces.

The Salukis swept their season series with Evansville with a 3-2 win against the Purple Aces Oct. 19.

In addition to its Nov. 12 meeting with SIU, Indiana State also has one last match with Evansville Nov. 13. The Purple Aces won the first meeting 3-2 Oct. 15. Indiana State defeated SIU Oct. 16.