ALLENDALE, Mich.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team rallied from a 29-23 deficit in the third game before falling to No. 21-ranked Northwood University 26-30, 27-30, 32-34 in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament Saturday at the Grand Valley State University Fieldhouse.

USI (24-7), the seventh seed in the tournament, scored seven unanswered points in the third game to take a 30-29 lead before the second-seeded Timberwolves closed out the 3-0 victory.

Junior middle blocker Laura Ellerbusch (Newburgh, Indiana) led the Screaming Eagles with 16 kills and a .393 attacking percentage, while sophomore outside hitter Chelse Doubler (Griffin, Indiana) tallied 12 kills and a .355 attacking percentage.

Senior middle blocker Leeanne Gross (Decatur, Indiana) had nine kills and finished her career as USI's second all-time leader in kills (1,513), attacking percentage (.301) and service aces (165). She also finished her career as USI's sixth all-time leader in digs (1,063).

Sophomore libero Amanda Probst (Wheeler, Illinois) recorded with 13 digs and finished the season with a school-record 475. Freshman setter Stephanie Wilson (Terre Haute, Indiana), who had 42 assists Saturday evening, also was close to a school-record as she finished the season with 1,471 assists, just 20 shy of former USI All-American Kim Boehmer's single-season school record.

USI, which looses just two starters, will have plenty to work with as it heads to the off-season and into the 2005 campaign. First-year Head Coach Molly Alvey returns five starters and 10 letterwinners from a team that won the GLVC regular season and tournament championships.

Northwood (21-9) was led by Sladjana Vasiljevic, who finished with 17 kills and a .414 attacking percentage. The Timberwolves hit .295 as a team and recorded 10 blocks as they snapped USI's six-game winning streak.