MARTIN, Tenn.– University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (8-14, OVC 3-7) struggled to to finish sets on Tuesday night against University of Tennessee at Martin (4-13, OVC 2-6) falling in straight sets (21-25, 21-25, 23-25). The Screaming Eagles drop their fifth straight match heading into the bye weekend.
Set 1: USI 21, UTM 25
The Eagles came out the gate strong as sophomore Leah Coleman, junior Bianca Anderson, senior Paris Downing, and senior Jasmine Green were involved with early kills leading 8-4. USI struggled with limiting runs as the Skyhawks surged with seven straight points taking a 14-10 lead. Anderson helped the Eagles regain a one-point lead with a textbook block. However, UTM finished the set on an 8-3 run earning the early advantage. Senior Carly Sobieralski tallied 11 assists on 7 digs.
Set 2: USI 21, UTM 25
Downing and Green combined at the net for a block giving the Eagles a 9-8 advantage. The Skyhawks bounced back with three straight points, but sophomore Ashby Willis smashed back-to-back kills tying the set at 13-13. Nevertheless, UTM used a four-point run to separate themselves with strong defensive play, frustrating the USI offense. The Skyhawks put the Eagles in a two-set deficit finishing on a 4-1 run.
Set 3: USI 25, UTM 23
Coleman finished her team leading eighth kill to help the Eagles gain an early 7-4 lead. The Sobieralski to Willis connection extended the Eagle led to 9-5. The Skyhawks erased their large deficit mounting an eight-point run snatching a 15-14 lead. Green showed her senior leadership keeping the Eagles under control vocally along with smashing a kill earning a 19-17 lead. However, USI continued to struggle finishing sets as the Skyhawks finished the match with a 6-2 run.
Coleman led offensively with nine kills. Sobieralski racked up 29 assists on 13 digs, while Moore led defensively with 15 digs. Moore has snatched 15+ digs in her past nine matches. Anderson swatted a career high and Eagles season high eight blocks.
As a team, USI finished with 34 kills, 33 assists, 58 digs, one aces, ten blocks, and a .170 attacking percentage. The Skyhawks earned 51 kills, 46 assists, 55 digs, six aces, eight blocks, and a .216 hitting percentage.
Next up for the Eagles
USI moves into a bye weekend as they return on November 1 at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
