at #23 Nebraska-Omaha (7-3): 3
Southern Indiana (5-4): 0
Box Score

OMAHA, Neb.—The No. 23 University of Nebraska-Omaha attacked at a blistering .320 pace as the host Mavericks handed the University of Southern Indiana volleyball team a 25-16, 25-16, 25-19 setback to begin the UNO Volleyball Classic Friday.

USI (5-4) stayed with the Mavericks throughout the early stages of the first set, going as far as claiming an 11-10 lead. Nebraska-Omaha (7-3), however, won seven straight points and 10 of the next 11 to claim a commanding 20-12 advantage.

After dropping the opening frame, the Eagles surrendered three straight tallies and five of the first six points as they found themselves in an early four-point hole in the second game. USI battled back to tie the set on three different occasions, but a 12-4 run allowed Nebraska-Omaha to pull away and claim a 2-0 lead in the match.

The Screaming Eagles, who had just one team block, gained a 13-9 advantage midway through the third frame, but another Nebraska-Omaha surge allowed the Mavericks to shift momentum and take a 20-17 lead. USI cut that deficit to a single point, but the Mavericks won the final five points to close the match out in straight sets.

Senior middle blocker Ashley Henricks led the Eagles with 11 kills and a sizzling .647 attacking percentage, while junior defensive specialist Janae Curnutt had a team-high 10 digs.

USI faces Cameron University later this afternoon before closing out the two-day UNO Volleyball Classic with matches at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.