EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team could not overcome a two-set deficit as it fell to the University of Missouri-St. Louis 25-18, 25-19, 24-26, 25-17 Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center.

USI (6-4, 1-1 GLVC) struggled defensively in the first set as the Tritons hit at a .432 clip and finished with a side-out percentage of 73 percent. In game two, the Screaming Eagles were held to a .000 attacking clip as Missouri-St. Louis (8-2, 2-0 GLVC) raced out to a two-set lead in the match.

The Eagles came out of the intermission on fire as they built a 10-4 lead to start the third frame. Missouri-St. Louis, however, scrapped its way back into the game, forcing a match-point before the Eagles could take the third set and cut its match deficit in half.

USI claimed the first three points in the fourth frame and looked as if it was on its way to tying the match at two games each. The Tritons, however, on the strength of a .375 attacking clip, battled back and eventually pulled away to finish the match in four sets.

Senior middle blocker Meg Buschman (Reynolds, Indiana) and sophomore middle blocker Ashley Henricks (Greenwood, Indiana) led the Eagles. Buschman finished with 13 kills, while junior middle blocker Ashley Henricks (Greenwood, Indiana) had eight kills, a .438 attacking percentage, and a match-high seven blocks.

Junior setter Melanie Pund (Ferdinand, Indiana) had 35 assists and 13 digs, while sophomore libero Janae Curnutt (Arcadia, Indiana) and junior outside hitter Jaclyn Johnson (Newburgh, Indiana) combined for 23 digs.

The Eagles (6-4, 1-1 GLVC) return to action September 19 when they travel to Kansas City, Missouri, to take on Rockhurst University. USI concludes its first GLVC road trip September 20 when it travels to Springfield, Missouri, to take on Drury University.