EVANSVILLE, Ind. — University of Southern Indiana Women’s Swimming and Diving has made serious strides in year three of the program’s existence, emerging victorious against crosstown rival University of Evansville at Wyttenbach Pool on Friday evening, 137-99. The victory marks the first in program history over the Purple Aces improving each year. 
 
The Screaming Eagles were led by freshman Anna Bunnell, shattering both school diving records once again. Bunnell smashed the three-meter record by a wide margin, scoring 238.05 in a second-place effort. Freshman Gabbie Meier also excelled in the three-meter event with her personal best score of 229.43. This was the third time she has broken the school record this season which was previously 229.15. The freshman also took the top spot in the one-meter dive (226.88), finishing second against a high-skilled Evansville diver. 

The Screaming Eagles finished atop the podium in the 200-medley relay (1:48.52). The combination of freshman Elizabeth Ketcham, freshman Simone Green, junior Sarah-Catherine Dawson and sophomore Hayden Shurtz secured second place in the USI record book with their effort. The medley squad continues to improve, finishing 0.24 seconds faster than their last competition. 
 
USI took the top two spots in the 100 freestyle with sophomore Reagan Holmes in first (54.56), and sophomore Caiya Cooper right behind (55.15). Shurtz emerged on top in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.49), while Ketcham won the 50 freestyle (25.06).
 
Ketcham, Cooper, Green and Holmes continued their winning ways in the 200 freestyle relay, touching the pad in first-place at 1:39.34.
 
Other Notable Performances
200 freestyle: Freshman Alivia Scott (2:01.39)
200 individual medley: Freshman Emma Gabhart (2:12.03)
500 freestyle: Junior Elizabeth Busby (5:40.75)
 

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (8-15, OVC 3-8) dropped their sixth-straight Ohio Valley Conference match on Friday night on the road against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (9-13, OVC 4-7) in four sets (22-25, 25-23, 18-25, 22-25).
 
Set 1: USI 22, SIUE 25
USI jumped out to a three-point lead capitalizing on early errors from the Cougars. However, the Cougars woke up rattling off a five-point run to gain a 6-4 lead. Senior Carly Sobieralski placed dimes across the court to senior Jasmine Green, senior Paris Downing, junior Bianca Anderson, and sophomore Leah Coleman as the Eagles tied the match at 16. SIUE won the crunch time points mounting a 5-2 run to conclude the set finishing with a .293 hitting percentage.
 
Set 2: USI 25, SIUE 23
The middle hitters for USI of Anderson and Downing dominated set two. The Cougars seemed to have USI in a blender with a 11-17 deficit and zero blocks up to that point. However, the Eagles mounted a 9-1 run taking a 20-18. Downing finished the set on an absolute team contributing to five straight points with three kills and two block assists. The senior crushed a kill after the Cougars mounted a three-point run on set point as she finished with seven set kills and four blocks. Anderson also swatted six set kills as the Eagles controlled the match through the middle in set two.
 
Set 3: USI 18, SIUE 25
USI was forced to call an early timeout after struggling with receptions trailing 8-2. Anderson stopped the bleeding with a critical slide. Willis came alive with two kills and a solo block bringing the Eagles within four. The Cougars erupted on a 6-1 run to double up the Eagles at 18-9. USI made a late set charge, but the Cougars prevailed winning set three. After three sets, SIUE showed more efficiency with their passes and swings hitting .252, while USI hit a .188 percentage.  
 
Set 4: USI 22, SIUE 25
Despite the significant set three loss, USI gained some momentum at the end of the set which carried into set four. Junior Keira Moore delivered a service ace and Anderson smoked two kills earning a 7-6 lead. SIUE recorded another ace taking a 15-12 lead into the media timeout. The Cougars swatted their 12^th block and 10^th service to extend their lead to 19-14. Senior Abby Weber added a service ace along with kills from Willis, Sobieralski, and Coleman mounting a four-point run. However, USI failed to convert at the end of sets dropping the first matchup in Edwardsville.
 
Anderson and Downing tied offensively with 13 kills each. Sobieralski racked up 43 assists, while Moore laid her body on the line all night with 26 digs. Moore has snatched 15+ digs in her past ten matches. Downing swatted her season high of seven blocks.

As a team, USI finished with 51 kills, 47 assists, 74 digs, three aces, ten blocks, and a .120 attacking percentage. The Cougars earned 54 kills, 45 assists, 68 digs, ten aces, 12 blocks, and a .203 hitting percentage.
 

Aces earn another 5-set victory

UE defeats Bradley on Saturday

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – For the second evening in a row, the University of Evansville volleyball team earned a 5-set victory in come-from-behind fashion, defeating Bradley by a 3-2 final on Saturday at Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

Another spectacular night saw Giulia Cardona record 31 kills along with 10 digs.  Chloe Cline finished with eight kills while Angelica Gonzalez added seven.  Ainoah Cruz posted a match-best 21 digs while Kora Ruff tallied 35 assists and 11 digs.

Set 1 – UE 25, Bradley 22

Game one set the tone for a competitive evening.  Bradley was the first team to take a multi-point lead, going up 9-7.  Evansville rebounded with three in a row to go back. In front as Kora Ruff picked up an ace.

The turning point for the Purple Aces came after the Braves took a 19-18 lead.  UE rallied to scored five in a row as Josdarilee Caraballo tallied an ace.  A service error by BU set the Aces up with a 24-20 edge before Cardona had the clinching kill.

Set 2 – Bradley 25, UE 21

In the second set, the Braves had the early momentum, going up 9-5.  Three in a row cut the deficit to one before Bradley extended the advantage to 17-12.  Evansville continued to remain within striking distance before BU evened the match with a 4-point win.

Set 3 – Bradley 25, UE 23

A similar set took place in the third as the Braves held multiple leads while the Aces remained close.  Bradley held an 8-5 lead before a Cardona kill set UE up with a 10-9 edge.  Another kill by Cardona made it a 16-14 game before the Braves rallied back with five in a row to go up by three.  Evansville cut the deficit to 22-21, but it was BU who scored the final two to take a 2-1 match lead.

Set 4 – UE 26, Bradley 24

Multiple lead changes ensued leading to a 15-15 score.  Neither squad led by more than two until Evansville scored three in a row as Cardona registered three consecutive kills.  Once again, Bradley had the answer, retaking a 24-23 edge.  Down to its final point, UE took over and scored the final three points to force a fifth game.

Set 5 – UE 15, Bradley 10

Evansville was cranking on all cylinders to open the frame, jumping out to a 5-0 lead.  Ruff did the serving and recorded another ace.  Bradley did its best to overcome the slow start, getting within three points (9-6), but the UE attack proved to be too much.  The Aces pulled away to clinch the match with a 15-10 decision.

Next weekend, the homestand continues with matches against Belmont and Murray State on Thursday and Friday.