#15 Truman State (5-0): 3
Southern Indiana (3-2): 2
Box Score
Southern Indiana: 3
Minnesota-Crookston (0-6): 2
Box Score
ST. LOUIS, Mo.—Junior middle blocker
Danielle LaGrange pounded out a match-high 24 kills to lead the University of Southern Indiana volleyball team to a thrilling five-set, come-from-behind victory over the University of Minnesota-Crookston Friday afternoon at the Triton Classic.
USI (3-2), which got a strong effort from freshman setter/right side hitter
Jorae Bradbury, won the first set 25-18, but slipped in the second and third sets by scores of 25-21 and 25-22. The Screaming Eagles rallied for a 25-20 triumph in the fourth set to tie the match at 2-2, then used a .321 attacking percentage in the deciding set to pull out an 18-16 victory.
Bradbury, who was in the starting lineup for the first time in her collegiate career, recorded a match-high 51 assists to go along with four kills, a .400 attacking percentage, 11 digs, and two aces.
LaGrange added 15 digs, a .321 attacking percentage, and two aces as USI defeated the Golden Eagles in a five-set marathon for the second time in two seasons.
Sophomore outside hitter
Abbi Williams and senior outside hitter
Brittani Oliver aided the Eagles' effort with 12 and 11 kills, respectively, while junior libero
Krista Coccaro and freshman defensive specialist
Kayla Heldman finished with 22 and 18 digs, respectively.
Senior defensive specialist
Janae Curnutt added 11 digs while freshman middle blocker
Emily Diedrich recorded nine kills, a .600 attacking percentage, and three blocks.
Earlier in the day, the Eagles rallied from a two-set deficit to come within an eyelash of upsetting No. 15 Truman State University.
The Eagles dropped the first two sets by scores of 25-14 and 25-15, but used an 11-0 spurt in the third set to prolong the match with a 25-17 win. After picking up a 25-21 win in the fourth set, the Eagles found themselves playing catch-up for the second time in the match when they trailed 14-10 in the fifth frame.
USI rallied for three straight points to close the gap, but the Bulldogs picked up the 15th point to end the Eagles' charge and record the 15-13 victory.
LaGrange and Oliver led the Eagles offensively with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Bradbury came on in the second set to finish with 25 assists, while Curnutt and Coccaro finished with 13 and 12 digs, respectively.
The Eagles finish the Triton Classic Saturday as they face No. 4 Washburn University at 11:30 a.m. and Harding University at 4:30 p.m. They open their 2010 home schedule Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Kentucky State University at the Physical Activities Center.
