EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern volleyball team overcame a sluggish start to post a 30-23, 26-30, 30-23, 30-19 victory over Bellarmine University Saturday at the Physical Activities Center.

USI (15-10, 7-4 GLVC) outscored the Knights 12-3 to end the first game and take a 1-0 lead in the match.

After falling in game two, the Screaming Eagles bounced back to post wins in the third and fourth sets, holding the Knights to attacking percentages of .057 and .098 in each of those frames. The Eagles attacked at a clip of .414 in the fourth game to finish the match.

Junior outside hitter Emily Ryan (Batesville, Indiana) paced the Eagles with a match-high 16 kills, while senior middle blocker Laura Ellerbusch (Newburgh, Indiana) and junior outside hitter Chelse Doubler (Griffin, Indiana) chipped in 14 and 12 kills, respectively. Ellerbusch and Griffin combined for .311 attacking percentage.

The Eagles' offense benefited from a match-high 51 assists from the hands of sophomore setter Stephanie Wilson (Terre Haute, Indiana), while junior libero Amanda Probst (Wheeler, Illinois) led the defensive effort with a match-high 18 digs. Ellerbusch and Ryan chipped in 12 and 11 digs, respectively.

Bellarmine (10-10, 4-6 GLVC) got 14 kills and a .462 attacking percentage from freshman middle blocker Katie Willinger, while junior middle blocker Brandy Denning chipped in 10 kills and a .450 attacking percentage.

The Eagles return to action October 22 when they travel to Florence, Alabama, to take on No. 7-ranked University of North Alabama. USI defeated the Lions (23-1) 3-2 in its home-opener on September 21. The match is slated to start at 5 p.m.

USI returns home and resumes GLVC play October 25 when it hosts Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at the PAC at 7 p.m.