No. 25 Volleyball Takes Control in Second Set, Never Looks Back

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball took over its final home match of the season in the second set to beat GLVC East-rival McKendree for a second time this season. The 25th-ranked Eagles snapped a two-game losing streak with the win.

The Screaming Eagles fought hard in a long first set but dropped the set to McKendree 28-26. Following the first set, USI set the tone with a flurry of aggressive attacks, leading to three-straight set victories and the match. As a team, the Eagles bombarded the Bearcats with a season-high 63 kills with a hitting percentage of .320, marking USI’s highest attacking percentage since the sweep of Lindenwood (2/20/2021).  USI will now look ahead to the remaining three games on its schedule, all away from home, facing Indianapolis, Illinois Springfield, and No. 1 Lewis to close out the regular season.

Leading the USI attack were sophomores Katherine Koch and Leah Anderson,as well as junior Taylor Litteken. The sophomore duo of Koch and Anderson recorded 30 kills and 36.5 points combined. Koch’s 17 kills and 19.0 points both mark career-highs for the outside hitter; her previous highs were 15 kills and 17 points (William Jewell 2/27/2021). Litteken attacked with vigor through the final three sets of the day, recording 11 total kills (season-high) on an attack percentage of .500, pairing with five digs, two blocks, one ace, one assist, and 13.0 points.

Casey Cepicky racked up assists, dishing it out 52 times in the four-set victory. The setter recorded a season-high with the effort and now has 2,768 assists in her career at USI. She worked across the court, also laying out for nine digs and accounting for three kills, two blocks, and four points.

Junior Sidney Hegg and freshman Abby Weber and Abby Bednar all contributed effectively to the USI match victory as well. Hegg recorded 6.0 points on four kills and four blocks. Weber hit an impressive .304, blasting eight kills while laying out for 10 digs, adding in two aces and a solo block. Bednar hounded the Bearcat defense with an attack percentage of .700 with seven kills.

NOTES:
The Eagles recorded season-highs in kills with 63, assists with 60, and points with 78.0.