USI defeats Lindenwood, 3-0
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (1-14, 1-3 OVC) snapped its 14-game winless streak Friday night at Screaming Eagles Arena after defeating Lindenwood University (3-9, 0-3 OVC), 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-22). The Screaming Eagles earned their first NCAA Division I and Ohio Valley Conference victory in program history.
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USI kicked off the opening frame with a 9-0 run to lift the Eagles to a 25-20 win. The opening rally contained three service aces from sophomore outside/right side hitter Evie Duncan (Evansville, Indiana) to help put USI up by nine. Despite the Lions’ efforts to stop the Eagles’ surge, USI tallied four straight points off four Lindenwood attack errors to expand the lead to 13-1. The Lions did not give up and would go on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to six. Lindenwood would score eight of the final 15 points but to no avail as USI took home the opening set. Neither side had much offensive success as the Eagles finished with eight kills and seven errors while the Lions tallied nine kills and eight errors.
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The Eagles stifled the Lions in the second set, earning a 25-17 victory and a 2-0 match lead. A kill from Duncan gave USI the first point of the set before Lindenwood scored the next three. Kills from Duncan and junior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois) pushed the Eagles back into the lead, 4-3. Back-and-forth action between the two clubs ran up the score before USI went on a game-sealing 11-3 run to earn the win. The Eagles’ offense played their best in the second set, earning 13 kills and finishing with just one attack error. This was the first time this season that USI won back-to-back sets in a single match.
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Much like the first set, USI went on an early run to secure the third frame, 25-22. USI began the set with a 7-1 stint until Lindenwood tallied six of the next seven points to make it a one-point game. The Eagles made quick work to regain momentum, controlling a 6-1 run to extend their lead. However, the Lions did not give up, running the score to a 17-17 tie. Three kills from Anderson and a pair of kills from Duncan and sophomore outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) gave the Eagles the push they needed to win the set and their first match.
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Duncan and Anderson did the heaviest lifting on offense, each earning double-doubles. Duncan’s stat line ended with 10 kills, 10 digs, and three aces while Anderson totaled 14 kills, 10 digs, and two aces. Junior outside/right side/setter Katherine Koch (Belleville, Illinois) earned a team-high 24 assists while freshman libero/defensive specialist Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) totaled a match-high 14 digs. Anderson and sophomore middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana) recorded a match-high four blocks each.Â
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USI ended the night with 33 kills, 28 assists, six aces, 54 digs, and eight blocks. Lindenwood finished with 32 kills, 28 assists, six aces, 49 digs, and four blocks.
