 AUGUSTINE, Fla.—Three University of Southern Indiana volleyball players recorded double-digit kills as the Screaming Eagles rallied from a one-set deficit to defeat Brevard College, 25-27, 27-25, 25-21, 25-19, in their final match of the Flagler Invitational Saturday afternoon.
Freshman outside hitter Mikaila Humphrey (Floyd Knobs, Indiana) had a team-best 15 kills to go along with a .300 attacking percentage and seven digs as the Eagles concluded the weekend with a perfect 4-0 record, earning them championship in the four-team event.
Senior middle hitter Amy Zwissler (Bloomington, Indiana) had 10 kills, a .320 attacking percentage, and three blocks, while junior outside hitter Shelbi Morris (Brazil, Indiana) added 10 kills and 10 digs to help the Eagles to their third straight come-from-behind win.
After failing to complete an opening-set win despite having two set-point opportunities, the Eagles found themselves in the same situation in the second stanza. Once again, the Tornados blocked USI on two set-point opportunities, then had a chance to put the Eagles in a two-set deficit as they took a 25-24 lead.
The Eagles, however, responded with kills from Humphrey and Zwissler to retake the lead; then junior middle hitter Te’Ayla Whitfield (Fort Wayne, Indiana) served up an ace to give the Eagles the two-point win and knot the match up at a set apiece.
USI overcame an early deficit to forge a six-point lead midway through the third frame; but Brevard (0-4), once again, fought back to cut the Eagles’ cushion to 22-21. The Eagles, however, took advantage of three straight Brevard errors, the last of which was a result of a Zwissler solo block, as they earned a four-point win and a one-set advantage.
The Eagles used a 5-0 run midway through the fourth stanza to break a 9-9 tie. Brevard closed the gap to three points moments later, but that was as close as it would get as the Eagles pulled away for the six-point, match-clinching win.
Whitfield continued her strong play as she finished with seven kills, four aces, and a match-high seven blocks; while senior setter Quin Shoultz (Columbus, Indiana) tallied a match-high tying 40 assists. Junior libero Shannon Farrell (Munster, Indiana) added a match-high 19 digs.
USI returns to action September 9-10 when it travels to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to take part in the Augustana Invitational, which will be held at the Sanford Pentagon, site of the 2016 NCAA II Volleyball Championship as well as the 2017 NCAA II Men’s Basketball Elite Eight
