The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team saw a one-set lead slip away Friday night as it fell to No. 21 Lewis University 25-20, 14-25, 20-25, 16-25 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match.
USI (11-6, 4-4 GLVC), which falls to 1-4 on its current season-long road trip, hit into 13 blocks as the Flyers kept their undefeated record in league play intact.
The Screaming Eagles opened the match on a strong note, hitting .281 in the first frame to earn a five-point win and one-set lead in the match.
Lewis (17-1, 8-0 GLVC), however, roared back with a blistering .533 attacking percentage in the second stanza to post an 11-point win and even the match at a set apiece.
The Flyers’ play at the net in the third set wreaked havoc on the Eagles’ attack, especially late in the frame. USI led 19-17, but an 8-1 Lewis run that featured four blocks gave the Flyers a five-point win and a one-set lead in the match.
USI had a negative .042 attacking percentage in the third set and a negative .074 attacking percentage in the fourth frame. The Flyers, who had three blocks in the fourth stanza, benefitted from an 18-4 run in the final game as they closed the match with a nine-point win.
Sophomore outside hitter Shelbi Morris (Brazil, Indiana) had 10 kills to lead USI’s attack, while sophomore libero Shannon Farrell (Munster, Indiana) had 18 digs to lead the Eagles’ back row. Freshman setter Erika Peoples (Bloomington, Illinois) added 32 assists.
The Eagles’ final outing in their six-match road trip is Saturday at 3 p.m. when they travel to Somers, Wisconsin, to take on the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. The Rangers (11-6, 5-3 GLVC) defeated Bellarmine University in four sets Friday night.
Saturday’s match is the final match before the Eagles compete in the Midwest Region Crossover October 16-17 in Aurora, Illinois. USI returns to the Physical Activities Center October 23 to take on the University of Indianapolis in its “Dig for the Cure†match.
