WHEELING, W.V.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team was swept by No. 12 Grand Valley State University Saturday evening in the Great Lakes Region Crossover. The loss is the third straight that the Screaming Eagles, who fell to Northwood, 3-1, early in the day, have suffered.

USI (6-4) struggled to get anything going in the first and second games as the Lakers used a 7-0 start to set the tempo for a 30-24 victory in game one. GVSU (8-3) took game two 30-18.

The Eagles came out with more intensity in the third game, but could not hold onto a slim lead late in the frame as the Lakers closed the match with a 30-26 victory.

Senior right-side hitter Natalie Atzinger (Louisville, Kentucky) led the Eagles with a match-high 12 kills, while freshman libero Eva Kieffer (Mt. Carmel, Indiana) had a match-high 18 digs in the loss.

USI will open conference play September 17 when it hosts Lewis University at the Physical Activities Center in Evansville, Indiana. Match time is 7 p.m.