PENSACOLA, Fla.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team rallied from a two-game deficit to defeat the University of West Georgia, 23-30, 22-30, 30-22, 30-16, 15-12 in its season-opener Friday afternoon at the University of West Florida Comfort Inn-vitational. USI, however, fell to West Florida, 30-26, 30-25, 30-27 in its second match.

Sophomore outside hitter Courtney Bealor (LaPorte, Indiana) led USI with 22 kills, 12 of which came in the loss to UWF, while junior middle blocker Meg Buschman (Reynolds, Indiana) and freshman outside hitter Brittani Oliver (Indianapolis, Indiana) each had 20 kills.

After struggling in games one and two against West Georgia, the Screaming Eagles used a stifling defensive effort that held the UWG Wolves to a -.070 attacking percentage in the third frame. The Eagles recorded three blocks as a team in the third frame and got a combined seven kills out of Buschman and senior middle blocker Molly Rahman (Ferdinand, Indiana).

Sophomore right side hitter Kathi Hindman (Carmel, Indiana) helped spur the Eagles to a dominating win in game four. USI scored nine straight points on Hindman's second serving rotation as it pushed a four-point cushion into a 24-11 route. As a team, the Eagles hit .382 in the fourth frame as they evened the match at two games apiece.

In the deciding fifth game, the Eagles used a 3-0 run to turn a 9-8 lead into a comfortable four-point cushion.

For the match, Rahman led four Eagles that finished with 10 or more kills. Rahman had 14 kills, 10 digs, and three blocks, while Buschman tallied 13 kills. Oliver had 11 kills and eight digs, while Bealor finished with 10 kills.

Senior setter Stephanie Wilson (Terre Haute, Indiana) led the Eagles with 34 assists against West Georgia and 39 assists against West Florida. Freshman defensive specialist Janae Curnutt (Arcadia, Indiana) led USI with 14 digs against West Georgia, while sophomore setter/right side hitter Melanie Pund (Ferdinand, Indiana) had a team-best 12 digs against West Florida.

The Eagles (1-1) conclude the UWF Comfort Inn-vitational when they play Midwestern State University (Kansas) and Flagler College Saturday at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.