USI falls short in tight battle with Tennessee Tech

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (10-14, 6-7 OVC) was able to force a fifth set but could not close out against Tennessee Tech University (9-16, 5-9 OVC) at Screaming Eagles Arena Friday evening, 3-2 (25-21, 25-22, 25-22, 25-13, 15-12).
 
A late surge from TTU cost the Screaming Eagles in the end, 25-21. USI held an early 9-7 lead after five kills from four different Eagles and a run-capping ace from senior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois). The Golden Eagles returned the favor with a 3-0 run that gave TTU the advantage. Both sides switched rallies until a TTU timeout started a run for the Golden Eagles to cap off the opening-frame win. TTU scored seven of the last 10 points of the set with six points coming off kills. USI lost the offensive battle with nine kills and an ace compared to TTU’s 16 kills and one ace.
 
Despite TTU forcing a comeback, USI controlled the end of the game and scored a 25-22 win in the second set. The Golden Eagles got the jump early with a 5-3 advantage, but it was USI with an 8-2 stint that prevailed positively for the Screaming Eagles. During the run, TTU posted six offensive errors while Leah Anderson earned back-to-back aces. With an 11-7 lead, USI watched TTU storm back by scoring five of the next six points. The Screaming Eagles bounced back quickly with a 7-1 surge to extend USI’s lead to six. Sophomore Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) kicked off the run with a kill before Leah Anderson nabbed a pair of kills with sophomore Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) adding on a run-ending ace. Even with a 21-15 advantage, no lead was safe as TTU went on a 6-0 surge to knot it up at 21 apiece. USI would not stumble, securing the second-set victory after back-to-back kills from Leah Anderson and senior outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio). It was a more balanced attack from both sides; however, it was TTU’s six blocks that made the difference on the score sheet.
 
TTU controlled the entire set as USI fell in the third frame, 25-22. The game began with a pair of kills from Bianca Anderson and one kill from junior middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana) before Leah Anderson added repeating kills to tie it at six early. Tied at eight, TTU started to coast, scoring five of the next six points to hold a four-point advantage. USI was able to recover and cut the deficit to 18-16 thanks to kills from three different Eagles. It was back-and-forth play through the rest of the set as TTU was able to hold off a USI comeback. Between both teams, all the last 18 points were scored off kills, the longest such streak in the match. TTU was able to secure 20 kills in the frame with just two errors as USI batted down 15 kills with also two miscues. Neither side was able to record an ace nor a block in the set.
 
An 8-0 start and a 5-0 end resulted in a big win for USI in the fourth frame, 25-13. The Screaming Eagles began the set with a strong start with seven kills, four kills coming from the attack of Bianca Anderson. TTU was able to stop the bleeding before USI added another run, this time a 4-0 stint to make it a 15-6 game. The Golden Eagles sought revenge by cutting the deficit to seven and trading points until it reached 20-13. To cap off an incredible set, USI scored the last five points with kills from Downing and Leah Anderson along with a big ace from junior setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana). The Screaming Eagles’ defense was the MVP in the frame, holding TTU to just nine kills and a 0.129 hitting percentage. USI’s offense was not too shabby either, earning 18 kills with just one error to post a 0.548 attacking percentage.
 
Strategic runs by TTU led to a 15-12 victory over USI. The Golden Eagles kicked off the frame with three-straight points before the Screaming Eagles recovered with a 4-0 run led by Bednar who tallied a kill and an ace during the stint. Down 5-4, TTU stormed back by scoring seven of the next nine points to take a commanding 11-7 advantage. However, USI kept battling and tied the match up with another 4-0 surge. Despite the late push, TTU held off USI and scored four of the final five points to seal the win. The Screaming Eagles have not won a fifth set since November 19, 2021. USI only had one error in the frame, but it was 12 TTU kills that sealed the match.
 
Leah Anderson posted big numbers in the loss, securing 16 kills and 19 digs for her fourth-straight and ninth total double-double of the season. She also had a team-high three aces. Also earning double-digit kills and leading the team in blocks were Bianca Anderson and Downing who had 13 kills with four blocks and 10 kills with three blocks, respectively. Sobieralski tallied 45 assists while junior outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana) and Moore each recorded double-digit digs with 14 and 11 apiece. Bednar also had a solid outing with eight kills and four blocks.
 
As a team, the Screaming Eagles earned 58 kills, 47 assists, and six aces to go with 65 digs and seven blocks. The Golden Eagles had 70 kills, 61 assists, and four aces to pair with 75 digs and eight blocks.
 
NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES:
The Eagles host TTU one last time tomorrow at 2 p.m. Tomorrow’s match will be Senior Day for USI where the Eagles will recognize their four seniors: Leah Anderson, Bednar, Audrey Crowder (Avon, Indiana), and Evie Duncan (Evansville, Indiana).