EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team lost to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 31-29, 16-30, 23-30, 21-30 Tuesday evening at the Physical Activities Center.

USI (15-12, 7-5 GLVC) jumped out to a one-game advantage as junior outside hitter Emily Ryan (Batesville, Indiana) tallied eight of her team-leading 13 kills in the first set.

SIUE (19-5, 9-2 GLVC) answered by reeling off an 8-0 run midway through the second set and attacked at a clip of .355 to even the match at one game apiece. Senior middle hitter Heather Bonde had nine of her match-high 23 kills in the second frame to lift the Cougars to the win.

The Screaming Eagles fell behind early in game three and could not recover as the Cougars took a one-game advantage. SIUE distanced itself from the Eagles in the fourth and final game by running off a 9-1 stretch. The Cougars hit .308 the final set to seal the victory.

Senior middle blocker Laura Ellerbusch (Newburgh, Indiana) chipped in 11 kills, while junior libero Amanda Probst (Wheeler, Illinois) had a match-high 16 digs to lead the Eagles. Ellerbusch and Ryan each had 12 digs, while sophomore setter Stephanie Wilson (Terre Haute, Indiana) finished with 39 assists.

SIUE had five players in double-figures in the kills department and senior setter Krystal Majernik finished with 52 assists to spark the Cougars to a team-hitting percentage of .262.

USI will travel to St. Louis Friday to take on the University of Missouri-St. Louis at 7 p.m. The Eagles close out their final regular season road trip with a trip to Quincy, Illinois, to take on Quincy University Saturday at 2 p.m.