Southern Indiana (7-6, 1-0 GLVC): 3
at Bellarmine (3-3, 0-1 GLVC): 0
Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team rallied from an 11-3 deficit in the third set to finish off a 25-18, 25-17, 27-25 sweep over Bellarmine University in its GLVC opener Friday night. The win marks the program's 500th all-time victory.

USI (7-6, 1-0 GLVC) used early runs of 8-1 in both the first and second games to set the tone for the contest. The Screaming Eagles attacked at a .367 clip in the opening frame and held the Knights (3-3, 0-1 GLVC) to a .000 attacking percentage in the second frame as they raced out to the 2-0 lead in the match.

Despite chiseling the 11-3 deficit in the third frame down to three points, the Eagles found themselves facing five-point hole and the threat of a fourth set late in the stanza. USI, though, went on a 6-1 run to tie the game at 22-22 before inching ahead three plays later to set up the first of three match-point scenarios. After Bellarmine stifled the Eagles' second opportunity at closing the match out, USI got a kill from senior setter Melanie Pund and forced the Knights into an attacking error to gain the two-point win and straight-set victory.

Pund finished the match with 35 assists, four blocks, and five digs and set the Eagles' offense to a .266 team attacking percentage. Junior outside hitter Brittani Oliver and sophomore middle blocker Danielle LaGrange each had nine kills, while Oliver had a match-high tying 10 digs and a .438 hitting percentage.

Senior middle blocker Ashley Henricks, who had five kills and a .714 attacking percentage in the opening set, finished the match with eight kills, a .429 hitting percentage, and five blocks. Sophomore libero Krista Coccaro added 10 digs as the Eagles held Bellarmine's attack to a .110 hitting percentage.

The Eagles continue GLVC play when they visit Northern Kentucky University Saturday at 2 p.m. (CDT) in Highland Heights, Kentucky. USI opens its home schedule next Friday when it hosts Drury University.