PEORIA, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (1-1) kicked off the 2024 campaign in style at the Renaissance Coliseum on Friday morning winning three-straight sets (19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 25-23) against the University of St. Thomas, 3-1. The Screaming Eagles finished the day with a narrow loss to a high-powered Depaul University, 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 15-25, 25-22, 10-15) to open the season at the CEFCU Invitational, hosted by Bradley University.
USI vs. St. Thomas
The Eagles fell behind early as the Tommies landed the first blow, winning set one 25-19. Both teams went back and forth as senior Jasmine Green (Rockwall, Texas) tied it at 14-14. The Tommies erupted with an 11-5 late run to win the set and gain an early lead. USI made nine costly attacking errors. Sophomore Leah Coleman (Hoover, Alabama) led the Eagles with four kills.
USI found their rhythm in set two, tying the match at one with a riveting 25-23 victory. The Eagles used a variety of attackers as six different players contributed a kill. The match was knotted at 21, before sophomore Ashby Willis (Mount Carmel, Illinois) smashed two kills and a service ace to clinch the match. USI collected a set-high 19 kills.
The Eagles found themselves down 14-20 in set three, before rattling off 11 straight points to win 25-20. The rally was sparked by forcing multiple attacking errors and two huge blocks from senior Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana).
USI won another close set to secure their first 2024 victory in four sets, winning 25-23. Green fired home six clutch kills in her return to the Renaissance Coliseum, coming to USI as a graduate senior from Bradley University. She had six kills in set four, finishing with a career-high 18 kills along with a stellar .517 hitting percentage in her USI debut. Coleman also played a huge role spiking a career-high 13 kills.
Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indina) started 2024 strong with a team-leading 49 assists. Junior Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) (28 digs) and Willis (22 digs) held down the fort defensively. Downing added five pivotal blocks as the team leader.
As a team, the Eagles tallied 61 kills off 58 assists along with 101 digs and 14 blocks. St. Thomas finished with 47 kills, 46 assists, 84 digs, and 18 blocks.
USI vs. Depaul
The Blue Demons took the early lead with a ferocious .205 attacking percentage, winning set one 25-23. USI started strong leading 8-3 off seven kills from Green and Willis. Depaul roared back taking advantage of nine USI errors.
USI earned the final three points of set two, tying the match at one, 25-21. Junior Jordan Troutman (Henderson, Kentucky) and Sobieralski combined for nine assists. Green emphatically finished two of her career-best 19 kills to clinch it. Depaul adjusted in set three holding the Eagles to six kills, winning 25-15. After three sets, Moore led USI defensively with 19 digs.
USI used another balanced attack as senior Lauren O’Neill (Covington, Indiana), sophomore Mariah Minor (Indianapolis, Indiana), Green, Anderson, Coleman, and Sobieralski all collected kills forcing a fifth match, 25-22. The Eagles ran out of steam in set five, dropping the final match 15-10.
Green was the offensive leader with another career-high performance of 19 kills. Sobieralski recorded a double-double with 24 assists and 18 digs, while Troutman came off the bench adding 18 assists and four service aces. Willis’ 22 digs marked a career-high for the sophomore, along with Anderson leading the team in blocks with five.
Both teams statistical totals were nearly identical as USI recorded 54 kills, 53 assists, 88 digs, and 14 blocks. The Blue Demons finished with 53 kills, 53 assists, 90 digs, and 16 blocks.
NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES
USI is back in action tomorrow night against the host squad, Bradley University Braves at 4:30 p.m. No live broadcast will be available, but stay tuned to live stats at usiscreamingeagles.com.
