EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (4-7) sweeps the crosstown series against University of Evansville (1-10) with a riveting five-set victory (23-25, 25-14, 21-25, 25-11, 15-9). Screaming Eagles Arena was on fire for the home opener with a USI Volleyball record setting arena crowd of 824 fans, eclipsing the previous Screaming Eagles Arena Volleyball record of 375.
USI attacked the Purple Aces as a team similar to Tuesday night’s match, with five different Eagles notching double-digit kills from sophomore Ashby Willis (14), sophomore Leah Coleman (12), junior Bianca Anderson (15), senior Paris Downing (10), and senior Jasmine Green (15). Senior setter Carly Sobieralski shinned on the big stage once again with a season-high 57 assists and a new career high of 25 digs.
Set 1: UE 23, USI 25
Anderson came out the gate swinging with three early kills to give USI an early 9-5 lead. Green added to the fast start with two powerful kills making it 15-10. Sobieralski caught the defense off balance late in the set as USI led, 23-19. The Aces erupted on 6-0 run stunning the crowd by robbing the first set after the Eagles seemed to have all the momentum. Starting the game slow continues to be a problem, as the set loss marks a 1-10 record in first sets.
Set 2: UE 14, USI 25
The Eagles quickly flipped the page as Coleman took over with three early kills as USI led 13-6. USI surged on a 6-0 run as the Aces defense struggled to defend the Sobieralski to Anderson connection. Downing smashed a kill straight up the middle to even the match at one. Evansville committed ten errors opposed to Eagles three in set two. USI’s defense forced the Purple Aces to a .025 hitting percentage through two frames.
Set 3: UE 21, USI 25
Set three was intense as both teams traded blows tied at nine as Downing and Willis both racked up three kills each. The Aces started to separate themselves capitalizing on multiple USI errors, leading 19-13. However, USI mounted their own 7-3 run to pull within two points. UE’s middle blocker Chloe Kline finished the Eagles with two huge kills. The error statistic stuck out again, as UE only committed one opposed to USI’s eight.
Set 4: UE 11, USI 25
Green took her turn in set four giving the Eagles the early 7-5 lead with three kills. Senior Abby Weber, Anderson, Coleman, Downing, and Willis peppered the Aces with attacks going on an 8-0 run as the Eagles lead by 12. Sobieralski dropped her 43rd match dime to help force a fifth set. USI were extremely efficient in set three with a .429 attacking percentage. Junior Keira Moore totaled 22 digs through four sets. The race to 15 points in set five would be the decider of the crosstown second leg.
Set 5: UE 9, USI 15
The energy in Screaming Eagles Arena heightened in the final set as every point erupted with noise. Team leader Jasmine Green finished the Aces with three-straight kills to help the Eagles finish the match on a 6-0 run. Sobieralski tallied her season-best 57th assist to finish the game with 13 assists in the final set along with her career-best 25th dig. USI hit a season-best .483 hitting percentage in set five.
The Eagles are tough to beat because of multiple different players able to step up offensively at any moment. This match marketed the first time all season five different Eagles tallied double-digit kills.
Anderson and Green both tallied 15 kills leading the way. Sobieralski’s 57 assists led both teams as she finished with 106 assists combined in both rivalry matches. Moore and Sobieralski were tied with 25 digs each. Downing dominated up the middle once again with six total blocks. Moore and Weber both added service aces.
As a team, USI totaled 72 kills, 67 assists, 94 digs, eight blocks, two service aces, and a .274 hitting percentage. UE finished with 47 kills, 46 assists, 78 digs, five total blocks, six service aces, and a .114 hitting percentage.
