Bednar, Moore set career highs in five-set loss

MACOMB, Ill. – Senior outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and sophomore libero/defensive specialist Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) each recorded new career highs as University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (10-13, 6-6 OVC) fell to Western Illinois University (7-14, 6-4 OVC), 3-2 (25-20, 25-15, 25-22, 25-16, 15-13), at Western Hall Saturday afternoon. Bednar racked up 24 kills while Moore totaled 31 digs in the loss.
 
Big runs from the Leathernecks handed the Screaming Eagles the opening-set loss, 25-20. WIU came out the gates hot with a 6-2 lead until USI bounced back and scored six of the next seven points to take the 8-7 advantage. The Eagles took advantage of four Leathernecks’ errors during the stint. After junior middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana) threw down a kill to make it 11-9, WIU went on a 5-1 spurt to regain the lead. USI was able to knot it back up at 17 apiece before the Leathernecks jumped out to a four-point lead after scoring five of the last six points to secure the victory. Attacking errors were the Achilles heel for the Eagles who racked up a match-high nine errors in the set.
 
A dominating outing from USI tied the match after the Eagles nabbed the 25-15 win in the second game. It was a close matchup early until USI tallied six of the seven points to hold a 16-10 advantage. Downing kicked off the run with a kill as Bednar and junior outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana) ended the stint with kills. Even after WIU stopped that run, Weber and Bednar turned around and batted down back-to-back kills to extend the lead to 19-11. The set was capped off with a 4-0 surge from the Eagles that was highlighted by three offensive miscues from the Leathernecks. USI’s offense produced 16 kills with just two errors and a match-high 0.389 hitting percentage while the defensive side allowed a match-low nine kills and forced seven errors.
 
WIU controlled the set the entire way to hand USI the 25-22 loss. It was an early 4-3 lead for the Eagles after a Downing kill and an ace from senior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois). After that, it was all Leathernecks as WIU produced five kills and an ace to jump out to a 10-6 lead. The Eagles were able to cut the deficit to just one thanks to a pair of attacking errors and a Bednar kill but the Leathernecks retaliated with their own rally to make it 16-12. The relentless Eagles found a way to close the gap again, nabbing two kills in the process. Despite the momentum swing, WIU held off USI and closed out the frame with a team-high 16 kills.
 
A 7-0 surge to end the set sealed the dub for the Eagles, 25-16. It was back-and-forth play throughout the frame until USI was able to take a 17-14 lead after scoring five of the last six points. Moore started off the stint with an ace as Anderson collected three straight kills to keep the momentum. With an 18-16 advantage, the Eagles went on a game-sealing run that included three Bednar kills and an ace from freshman outside hitter Leah Coleman (Hoover, Alabama). USI’s offense dominated the game with 17 kills and a 0.317 hitting percentage.
 
Despite forcing a fifth set, USI could not close the match as the Eagles fell 15-13 to the Leathernecks. Bednar and Anderson led off the frame with kills until a 9-2 WIU run handed USI a 10-4 deficit out of the gate. Even after the large spurt, the Eagles held the Leathernecks to just four points in the last 13 rallies. USI trailed by just one until WIU nabbed a game-winning kill to record the victory. The Eagles put up nine kills with just one error, but it was the Leathernecks’ 11 kills that made the difference.
 
Also earning big numbers was Anderson who tallied 23 kills and 19 digs while Downing had nine kills and seven blocks. Junior setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana) put up 62 assists and 22 digs which marks the first time since Stephanie Wilson in 2005 that a USI setter has earned at least 60 assists and 20 digs in a single match. She also is the first player in the Ohio Valley Conference to secure 60+ assists in a single match and has done it in back-to-back matches.
 
As a team, the Eagles collected 71 kills, 69 assists, and five aces to go with 13 blocks and 95 digs. USI’s 95 digs, 85 points, and 69 assists were the most all-season. The Leathernecks totaled 60 kills, 57 assists, and four aces to pair with 91 digs and six blocks. Even though the Eagles had better numbers in all five categories, WIU came out on top.
 
NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES:
The Eagles will have to wait 13 days until their next match due to the new schedule format set by the Ohio Valley Conference. USI will host Tennessee Tech University on November 3 and 4. Saturday’s match will be Senior Day where the Eagles will honor their four seniors.