Despite getting 12 kills and a .303 attacking percentage from sophomore outside hitter Shelbi Morris (Brazil, Indiana), the University of Southern Indiana volleyball team fell to host Bellarmine University 17-25, 25-23, 21-25, 21-25 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match Tuesday night.
Bellarmine (7-10, 2-5 GLVC), which snapped a seven-match losing streak, held a 68-44 advantage over the Screaming Eagles in kills, posting a .249 attacking percentage to USI’s .149 clip.
The Eagles (11-5, 4-3 GLVC), who have lost three of their last four matches, all of which have been on the road, struggled on the defensive end in the opening set as the Knights racked up 19 kills and a blistering .400 attacking percentage.
USI battled back in the second set, using four blocks to hold Bellarmine’s attack in check for a two-point decision. The Eagles won the final three points and six of the last eight rallies in the second frame to tie the match a 1-1.
The Eagles failed to recover from an early 4-0 Bellarmine run in the fourth set, despite getting to within a point of the Knights at 16-15 midway through the frame. Bellarmine, however, ran off three straight points and never looked back as it earned the four-point win to forge a one-set lead.
In a set that featured 14 ties and seven lead changes, the Knights pulled away late in the fourth frame, winning five of the final six rallies to complete the upset in four games.
USI got eight kills and a .316 attacking percentage from sophomore middle blocker Te’Ayla Whitfield (Fort Wayne, Indiana) as well as 33 assists from freshman setter Erika Peoples (Bloomington, Illinois). Sophomore libero Shannon Farrell (Munster, Indiana) had a match-high 25 digs, while senior right side hitter Erica Oberbroeckling (Westfield, Indiana) and senior defensive specialist Erin Goldschmidt(Smithton, Illinois) each added 15 digs.
The Eagles return to action Friday at 7 p.m. when they travel to Romeoville, Illinois, to take on No. 21 Lewis University. USI concludes the weekend Saturday at 3 p.m. when it travels to Somers, Wisconsin, to take on the U
