Eagles soar past Cougars in thrilling four-set victory

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (9-9, 5-2 OVC) won a nail-biter against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (7-9, 1-4 OVC) on Friday night at Screaming Eagles Arena, 3-1 (25-22, 25-23, 30-28, 25-22). The Screaming Eagles snap an eight-match winless streak against the Cougars dating back to 2005.
 
A slow start haunts the Eagles in the opening frame, 25-22. USI scored the first point of the match off a kill from senior outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) until the Cougars nabbed three straight points to take a 3-1 lead. After back-to-back kills by senior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois), USI made it 7-6 but SIUE turned around and fired off five of the next six points to extend their lead to five. Even after an attacking error, the Cougars used a 4-0 run to double-up on the Eagles, 16-8. The Eagles did put up a fight by scoring eight of the next 10 points to cut the deficit to just two. The surge was highlighted by four kills from three different USI players and capped off with an ace from junior outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana). SIUE extended their lead back up to five until a late 3-0 stint from the Eagles made it a close contest at the wire before the Cougars iced the set with a kill. Both sides produced 12 kills in the frame but it was USI’s seven errors that hurt them the most.
 
It was a tight race to the finish, but USI ultimately came out on top in the second set, 25-23. Trailing 4-3 early, the Eagles stormed back with a 6-0 run that featured four kills split between four different USI attackers. The Eagles continued the hot streak by posting seven of the next eight points to take a 16-6 advantage over the Cougars. Sophomore middle hitter Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) kicked off the run with back-to-back kills and continued with a pair of kills from Leah Anderson. Even down by 10, SIUE returned fire by posting five straight points to make it 20-15 late in the set. With USI reaching set-point, the Cougars put the Eagles on their heels with a 5-0 surge to make. Leah Anderson shut down the run with a kill to hand USI the victory and tie the match at 1-1. The Eagles outkilled the Cougars 15-10 with the defense forcing nine SIUE errors.
 
A chaotic third frame ended in favor of USI and gave the Eagles a one-set lead, 30-28. The beginning of the set was a true battle as there were five lead changes and four ties and an SIUE 13-10 lead. USI went on a large 9-1 push that gave the Eagles a 19-14 advantage. The run started with kills from Bednar and Leah Anderson and progressed with three kills from Bianca Anderson and a key kill from junior setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana). The Cougars did not budge and retaliated with a 4-0 run and then another couple of points to make it a one-point set. Trailing 23-21, SIUE ran away with three straight points to hold a 24-23 lead at set point. It was total mayhem after as USI and SIUE traded the lead eight times until the Eagles took advantage of two big attacking errors from the Cougars to end the set. The 30-point plateau was the most points scored in a single set by USI since the 2017 season. Both teams also produced a combined 39 kills and over 100 total attacks in the frame.
 
USI used a last-second run to win the match and the set, 25-22. The Eagles held an early 7-4 lead until the Cougars sprang into action and tacked on five of the next six points to make it 9-8. Both teams swapped points throughout the set until USI sat with a 22-21 disadvantage. Three kills from three different Eagles shifted the momentum and sealed the Cougars’ fate. Leah Anderson, Bianca Anderson, and Weber tallied the final three kills that helped USI secure the victory.
 
Sobieralski highlights the Eagles with a career-high 50 assists in just four sets played. Leah Anderson tallied a team-leading 18 kills to pair with a couple of blocks and an ace. Bednar nabbed an 18-dig and 15-kill double-double while Bianca Anderson secured a career-high 15 kills and a whopping 0.636 hitting percentage. Junior middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana) took control of the net, posting a match-high nine blocks with six kills. Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) paired with Bednar to hold a team-high 18 digs.  
 
As a team, the Eagles produced a season-high 62 kills, 58 assists, 14 blocks, and 78 points that complimented 55 digs and two aces. SIUE finished the match with 58 kills, 53 assists, and seven aces to pair with 56 digs and nine blocks.
 
NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES:
The Eagles complete the series against the Cougars tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Screaming Eagles Arena. Saturday’s match will be Mental Health Awareness Day and fans are encouraged to wear green to spread awareness.