The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team held off a late rally by Ferris State University to record a 3-2 victory Friday afternoon at the Great Lakes Regional Crossover in Highland Heights, Kentucky. The Screaming Eagles followed the win with a 3-0 victory over Fairmont State University later in the evening.

After dominating the first two games against Ferris State, the Eagles let a 7-0 lead slip in the third game and a 12-6 lead slip in the fourth game to find themselves in a fifth-game tiebreaker.

The Eagles came out with a sense of urgency in the fifth game as they hit .545 to take the game 15-10.

There were no late heroics in USI's match against Fairmont State. The Eagles hit .347 and held Fairmont State to a .000 hitting percentage as they took the match 30-20, 30-6, 30-17.

Freshman outside hitter Emily Ryan (Batesville, Indiana) led the Eagles with 26 kills while sophomore middle hitter Laura Ellerbusch (Newburgh, Indiana) and junior middle blocker Leeanne Gross (Decatur, Indiana) chipped in 22 and 21 kills, respectively. Ellerbusch finished the day with a .487 attacking percentage while Gross finished with 9 service aces.

Senior setter Kim Boehmer (Cincinnati, Ohio) recorded 11.38 assists per game to lead the Eagles to a .315 team attacking percentage.

USI will play West Virginia Wesleyan College (9 a.m.) and Hillsdale College (12:30 p.m.) to finish the crossover on Saturday.