SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—After seeing leads of 16-10 and 20-16 slip away in a two-point opening-set loss, you could not blame any University of Southern Indiana Volleyball fans for having a little concern when the Screaming Eagles saw their 13-10 lead in the fifth set shrink to a single point.

USI (12-9, 6-4 GLVC), however, like they did with its second and third-set victories earlier in the match, kept its composure as senior setter Casey Cepicky (St. Louis, Missouri) got a kill in the next point to give the Eagles a match-point opportunity. She then combined with senior middle blocker Sidney Hegg (Menasha, Wisconsin) on a block to secure USI’s 23-25, 25-21, 25-16, 23-25, 15-12 victory over host University of Illinois Springfield Friday night.

The win snaps a five-match skid for the Eagles, who out-hit the Prairies Stars .231 to .144. USI racked up 72 kills to Illinois Springfield’s 49 and had a 90-72 lead in digs.

Illinois Springfield (8-13, 4-6 GLVC) used runs of 6-0, 4-0 and 5-1 to steal the two-point, opening set win. The Stars benefitted from eight USI attacking errors and five service errors to pick up a two-point win in the fourth set and even the match at 2-2.

The Eagles bounced back from their opening-set loss with 16 kills and a .350 attacking percentage as they earned a four-point win in the second set to even the match at a win apiece. USI held the Stars to a negative .030 attacking percentage in a nine-point third set victory to take a one-set lead of its own.

USI won the first two rallies in the fifth frame, but it was Illinois Springfield that had an 8-7 lead at the midway juncture. The Eagles used a 6-2 run to surge in front, 13-10, but an Illinois Springfield kill followed by a USI attacking error got the Stars to within a point.

Cepicky’s kill, however, stopped Illinois Springfield’s momentum and allowed the Eagles to hold on for the win. She finished the match with five kills, a .625 attacking percentage, 53 assists, three aces, three blocks and 19 digs to lead the Eagles.

Hegg added eight kills, a .353 attacking percentage and five blocks, while sophomore outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois) erupted for 19 kills, 11 digs and four blocks.

USI also got 17 kills and 14 digs from freshman outside hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), while fellow classmate Taya Dazey (Fort Wayne, Indiana) chipped in 12 kills and 15 digs. Junior setter Taylor Litteken (Foristell, Missouri) added 10 kills, nine digs and five blocks, while senior libero Callie Gubera (Thorntown, Indiana) contributed 20 digs and eight assists.

The Eagles return to action Saturday at 3 p.m. when they travel to Lebanon, Illinois, to take on McKendree University. The Bearcats (6-14, 2-7 GLVC) suffered a three-set home loss to visiting the University of Indianapolis Friday evening and lost in three sets to USI last month at Screaming Eagles Arena.