PEORIA, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (2-1) left the CEFCU Invitational in Peoria, Illinois with a dominating victory (25-23, 25-22, 25-17) against Bradley University needing only three sets, 3-0. Senior outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana) joined a special club, surpassing 1,000 career digs.
A strong start led to an opening-frame win for the Eagles, 25-23. The Eagles fired off another late surge, finishing the set on a 14-8 run. Senior Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana) was locked in setting up her teammates nine times along with six digs.
USI has dominated the second set all weekend, winning 25-22 marking the third second set victory of the weekend. Five different Eagles fired home kills, but sophomore Ashby Willis (Mount Carmel, Illinois) and senior Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana) led the way with four each. The only clear statistical difference between both squads after two sets was USI’s edge in errors (17-12) and blocks (9.0-3.0).
The Eagles completed the sweep of the Braves in dominant fashion, 25-17. Junior Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) proved why she was chosen as an OVC Player to Watch. Anderson put the Braves away with two emphatic kills. USI avenged their narrow five-set loss from the 2023 season with the Braves to tie the series history at one.
Anderson led the Eagles in kills with 11. Sobieralski added another efficient game with 33 assists, averaging 11 per set. Junior Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) led the team in digs with 16 for the second time this season. Anderson also nabbed a team leading five blocks.
As a team, USI tallied 40 kills, 38 assists, 68 digs, and nine blocks. The Braves finished with 42 kills, 38 assists, 70 digs, and three blocks. The clear difference was USI committing just 14 errors opposed to the Braves 27.
Weber becomes the 14th Screaming Eagle in program history to achieve 1,000 digs. The senior has been a model of consistency since the day she stepped onto campus.
The Eagles leave Peoria 2-1, beating opponents from two tough conferences including Summit League and the Missouri Valley along with taking Depaul University from the Big East wire to wire.
