USI falls to UT Martin, 3-1
MARTIN, Tenn. – Junior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois), sophomore outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana), and sophomore setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana) each earned double-doubles despite University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (1-16, 1-5 OVC) falling 3-1 (15-25, 22-25, 26-24, 18-25) to the University of Tennessee at Martin (11-8, 5-1 OVC) at Skyhawk Fieldhouse Friday night. Anderson led the group with 13 kills and 16 digs while Weber nabbed 12 kills and 13 digs as Sobieralski tallied 29 assists and 15 digs.
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The Screaming Eagles kept it close until a late Skyhawks’ surge ended the opening frame with a 25-15 loss for USI. The Eagles were able to take an early 7-6 lead after some crucial UT Martin errors and a kill from junior outside/right side hitter/setter Katherine Koch (Belleville, Illinois). The Skyhawks turned around with a 4-0 run to take the lead and not give it back. UT Martin would tally nine of the next 13 points to extend its lead to 19-12 before sophomore middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana) struck down a kill and Anderson served an ace to stop the bleeding. However, the damage was already done as the Skyhawks take set one away from the Eagles. USI completed the frame with four kills and nine errors to tally a negative .161 hitting percentage, the lowest of the match.
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The Eagles played from behind the entire set and ended with a 25-22 loss. Despite earning the first point of the frame, USI watched UT Martin jump to a 4-2 lead before extending to a 13-8 advantage. The Eagles were able to stay within a few points but could not catch traction on offense, leading to a 2-0 match lead for the Skyhawks. USI played a solid second set, earning 12 kills with just four errors and a .216 hitting percentage.
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Set three proved to be the Eagles’ best of the match, earning an impressive 26-24 victory. USI led 6-3 after nabbing four kills by four different players right before the Eagles tacked on three more to make it 9-4. A short comeback from the Skyhawks made it 12-11 before USI tallied four straight points to extend the lead back to five. However, UT Martin nabbed eight of the next 10 points to take a 19-18 lead before Weber and sophomore outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) each recorded kills to regain the lead. Weber and Anderson led the Eagles to victory after striking down two kills each to lift USI to a third-set win. The Eagles produced big numbers in the third with a match-high 18 kills and an impressive .231 hitting percentage.
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An early lead was taken away from the Eagles as the Skyhawks stole a 25-18 victory. It looked to be a dominant fourth set for USI after doubling UT Martin 8-4. Back-to-back aces from Anderson highlighted the early lead for the Eagles while Weber, Bednar, and sophomore middle block Lauren O’Neill (Covington, Indiana) provided a combined five kills. Despite holding a five-point lead, USI watched UT Martin turn its deficit into a lead after surging back to tie it at 15 apiece. The Skyhawks would score 10 of the final 13 points to win the match and earn their fifth conference victory.
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Anderson’s 13 kills and three aces highlighted the Eagles’ offense in company with Weber’s 12 kills and one ace. Bednar threw down four blocks while Anderson tallied a team-high 16 digs. Sobieralski earned 29 assists along with 15 kills to help USI’s offense.
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USI produced 47 kills, 44 assists, and four aces with 69 digs and five blocks. UT Martin earned 60 kills, 60 assists, and two aces with 70 digs and six blocks. The Eagles’ 26 attacking errors and three ball-handling errors were each tied for most this season.
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