The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team recorded 48 kills and 15 service aces as it defeated Bellarmine University, 3-0, Friday night at the Physical Activities Center in Evansville, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles improve to 19-6 overall and 8-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference while the Lady Knights fall to 7-23 overall and 1-12 in the GLVC.
Senior outside hitter
Kristina Kavanaugh (Montgomery, Indiana) recorded five kills in the first game to lead USI to a 30-18 victory and a 1-0 lead in the match. The Eagles hit .275 and held Bellarmine to nine kills and a 0.86 attacking percentage in the first frame.
After spotting Bellarmine a two-point lead in the second game, the Eagles went on a 9-3 run to take a 25-21 lead. The Eagles overcame seven attacking errors in the second game to escape with a 30-27 victory and a 2-0 lead in the match.
Like the first game, the Eagles jumped out to a big lead in the third set. Senior outside hitter
Shannon Wells (Merrillville, Indiana) recorded three straight service aces to spur USI to a 30-18 win in the third game.
Wells finished the match with seven service aces, raising her season total to 103. It is the first time in school history that a player has recorded 100 or more service aces in a single season.
The Eagles were led in the match by Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh recorded a match-high 16 kills and a .366 attacking percentage. She also tallied 12 of USI's 52 digs.
Supplementing Kavanaugh was Wells, who finished with 15 kills, a .314 attacking percentage, and a match-high tying 14 digs.
Junior setter
Kim Boehmer (Cincinnati, Ohio) stepped up with 34 assists and tied with Wells with 14 digs. Boehmer led USI to a .240 attacking percentage in the victory.
Defensively, the Eagles held Bellarmine to 25 kills and a .152 hitting percentage.
USI will be back in action Saturday afternoon as it hosts Northern Kentucky University in a GLVC showdown. The two schools are in the running for a GLVC regular-season championship and the right to host the GLVC Tournament. Match time is slated for 2 p.m. at the PAC.