Ashland (13-7): 3
Southern Indiana (12-9): 2
Box Score

AURORA, Ill.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team saw a 10-7 lead in the fifth set evaporate as it lost to Ashland University 17-25, 25-15, 26-24, 18-25, 15-13 Saturday in the final contest of the Mizuno GLVC/GLIAC Crossover.

USI (12-9) battled back from a one-set deficit to even the match at 2-2. The Screaming Eagles hit .314 in the fourth frame while using runs of 7-0 and 10-3 to force the match into a deciding fifth set.

After trailing 5-1 in the fifth frame, Ashland cut into the Eagles' advantage, eventually chiseling the deficit to 7-6. USI, however, won three of the next four points and looked to be in control.

Ashland (13-8), which hit .301 for the match, battled back, winning five straight points to take a 12-10 lead. The Eagles tied the match at 12 and later at 13, but Ashland got back-to-back kills to pick up the two-point win and 3-2 victory in the match.

Earlier in the match, the Eagles racked up a .471 attacking percentage as they grabbed an eight-point victory in the opening set to build a 1-0 lead in the match. Ashland battled back with a .536 attacking percentage in the second frame to pick up a 10-point win and even the match at 1-1.

USI served for set-point in the third frame, but Ashland strung together three straight tallies to earn the two-point decision and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Junior middle blocker Danielle LaGrange led the Eagles with 17 kills and a .394 attacking percentage, while freshman setter Jorae Bradbury finished with 51 assists and 13 digs. LaGrange was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 4.00 kills and 1.08 blocks per set while attacking at a .453 pace.

Senior outside hitter Brittani Oliver and freshman middle blocker Emily Diedrich added 12 and 11 kills, respectively, while senior right side hitter Katie Knott had a match-high five blocks. Diedrich also had four blocks and a .350 attacking percentage.

Oliver, who hit .333, added a match-high 17 digs, while senior defensive specialist Janae Curnutt and freshman libero Kayla Heldman finished with 15 and 14 digs, respectively. Curnutt, who had four service aces, is now just two digs shy of becoming the eighth player in school history to reach 1,000 in her career.

As a conference, the GLVC captured the regional bragging rights as its 15 schools posted a 23-22 mark against the contingent from the GLIAC.

USI returns to GLVC action Friday at 7 p.m. when it hosts the University of Wisconsin-Parkside at the Physical Activities Center. The Eagles also host No. 11 Lewis University next Saturday at 3 p.m.

Mizuno GLVC/GLIAC Crossover All-Tournament Team

GLVC
Kayla Hellebusch, Sr., OH, Drury
Danielle LaGrange, Jr., MB, Southern Indiana
Weslie Gaff, Jr., MH, Missouri-St. Louis
Maggie McGovern, Jr., OH, Rockhurst
Carolyn Holstein, Sr., Lib., Missouri-St. Loui
Cheneta Morrison, Sr., S, UIndy

GLIAC
Lisa Tobiczyk, Jr., Lib., Ferris State
Abby Lovell, So., S, Northern Michigan
Rebeccah Rapin, Sr., MH, Grand Valley State
Clara Leutheuser, Jr., MH, Hillsdale
Emma Wolfe, Jr., OH, Northern Michigan
Annie Buxton, Jr., OH, Saginaw Valley State