CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball drops the second five-set match Friday night at Southeast Missouri State University to split the series 1-1. The Screaming Eagles now move to 3-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play, and 7-11 overall for the season.
Set 1: USI 25, SEMO 22
Building on the momentum of the game one win, the Screaming Eagles take the first set of game two of the series. Freshman Carley Wright and junior Leah Coleman led the offense in the first frame with four kills each. From the back row, Aysa Thomas, OVC Setter and Freshman of the Week, picked up seven digs to lead the team, starting her career-high defensive night.
Set 2: SEMO 25, USI 15
After a push-and-pull start, the Redhawks grabbed the lead at the eight-point mark and maintained control for the rest of the set. The Screaming Eagles struggled to put together a side-out point during SEMO runs. Libero Audrey Small picked up nine digs, followed by Thomas with another five. Junior Ashby Willis led the Eagles’ front line with four kills.
Set 3: USI 25, SEMO 21
The USI offense came back for the third set with dominance, hitting their most efficient at a .220 percent with 18 kills on just seven errors. Willis and Wright each added five kills to the board, while Coleman and senior Bianca Anderson added three each. Senior Keira Moore checked into the game to tally six digs for the defense.
Set 4: SEMO 25, USI 20
Willis hit for her best set of the night with six kills and a .312 hitting percentage. Wright reached a new career-high after adding two more kills, bringing her total to 13 for the night. Thomas continued her defensive high, adding seven more digs, along with libero Small.
Set 5: SEMO 15, USI 12
In a game that was very evenly matched, the Redhawks and Eagles started the tiebreaker set with some more back-and-forth scoring before SEMO managed to pull away. Willis led the USI side of the net with four kills, but the Screaming Eagles struggled to put together more of an offensive attack.
As a team, the Screaming Eagles picked up a team high 101 digs, matching the last time a USI team reached triple-digit digs in the 2024 season opener against St. Thomas. This effort was led by five different Eagles who recorded double-digit digs for the second game in a row.
Willis finished the night with another double-double, marking 21 kills and 13 digs. Thomas also finished in double-double territory with 46 assists and a career-high 26 digs.
