PENSACOLA, Fla.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team rallied from a pair of one-game deficits to defeat Midwestern State University 26-30, 30-25, 23-30, 30-25, 15-12 Saturday morning at the University of West Florida Comfort Inn-vitational. The Screaming Eagles, however, saw a two-game lead slip away in a 3-2 (28-30, 13-30, 30-23, 30-25, 15-11) loss to Flagler College Saturday afternoon.

USI (2-2) had four players finish with at least 13 kills—including a team-high 15 by sophomore right side hitter Melanie Pund (Ferdinand, Indiana) and junior middle blocker Meg Buschman (Reynolds, Indiana)—in the win over MSU. Senior setter Stephanie Wilson (Terre Haute, Indiana) had a match-high 60 assists, while junior libero Amber Gogel (Ferdinand, Indiana) finished with a team-high 18 digs.

The Eagles recorded 15 service aces in the victory, including a team-high six by Pund.

In the loss to Flagler, USI saw a blistering game-two attack fade away in games three and four. The Eagles hit just .059 in the third game and .143 in the fourth game after racking up a .368 attacking clip in game two. Flagler outscored the Eagles 7-2 to end the fifth and deciding frame.


Molly Rahman
Senior middle blocker Molly Rahman (Ferdinand, Indiana), who had 14 kills in the win over MSU, led USI with 20 kills and a .356 attacking percentage, while Pund and Buschman had 15 kills apiece. Freshman outside hitter Brittani Oliver (Indianapolis, Indiana) had 12 kills against Flagler after posting 13 kills against MSU.

Wilson led the Eagles with 58 assists in the loss, while Gogel and Pund finished with 24 and 23 digs, respectively. Sophomore outside hitter Courtney Bealor (LaPorte, Indiana) had a match-high six service aces to go along with 18 digs.

USI returns to action Friday at 4:30 p.m. when it takes on Bryant College in the Lewis University Flyer Invitational in Romeoville, Illinois.