at #8 Hillsdale (29-1):3
Southern Indiana (18-12): 0
Box Score

HILLSDALE, Mich.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball fell to No. 8 Hillsdale College in its NCAA II Midwest Region Tournament opener Friday night, but not before giving the host and top-seeded Chargers all they could handle.

USI (18-12) held late leads in both the first and third sets, but could not put the Chargers away in either frame as Hillsdale took the match 28-26, 25-16, 28-26.

The eighth-seeded Screaming Eagles served for set-point three times in the opening frame, but a 3-0 spurt by the Chargers to end the set eliminated USI's chance to take a 1-0 lead in the match. USI served for set-point twice in the third stanza and fought off one match-point situation, but the Chargers proved to be too much as Hillsdale won the final two points to complete the sweep.

“I'm extremely proud of how our girls played tonight,” USI Head Coach Leah Mercer said. “They came out calm and composed despite an amazing crowd and did everything we prepared them to do. It was an amazing season that we will look to build on.”

Junior middle blocker Danielle LaGrange led the Eagles with 13 kills and a .310 attacking percentage, while senior outside hitter Brittani Oliver had nine kills, 15 digs, and a .286 attacking percentage.

Senior right side hitter Katie Knott chipped in eight kills and a .312 attacking percentage, while freshman setter Jorae Bradbury had 35 assists for the Eagles, who fell to 2-3 all-time in the NCAA II Tournament. Senior defensive specialist Janae Curnutt and freshman libero Kayla Heldman added 14 and 13 digs, respectively.

Hillsdale (29-1), which advances to play No. 19 and fourth-seeded University of Indianapolis in the NCAA II Midwest Region semifinals Saturday night, was led by junior middle blocker Clara Leutheuser and junior setter Apryl Schmucker. Leutheuser finished with 16 kills and a .536 attacking percentage, while Schmucker had 41 assists and nine digs.