at Southern Indiana (15-7, 10-2 GLVC): 3
Saint Joseph's (9-12, 2-10 GLVC): 0
-Line Score: 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 (Box Score)

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana senior middle blocker Danielle LaGrange recorded her 1,000th career kill in a USI uniform Friday night as the Screaming Eagles defeated Saint Joseph's College 25-18, 25-19, 25-18 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division tilt at the Physical Activities Center.

LaGrange, who became the 11th player in USI history to reach the 1,000-kill plateau when she hammered down her third of the contest in the opening frame, finished the bout with a match-high 15 kills to go along with a .370 attacking percentage and four blocks.

USI (15-7, 10-2 GLVC), which moved into sole possession of second place in the GLVC standings as Northern Kentucky University and Missouri University of Science & Technology each suffered losses Friday night, benefitted from a 9-2 spurt to begin the match and gain the upper hand in the opening frame.


The Eagles, who held a 20-9 lead, had to hold off a late Saint Joseph's run to gain the seven-point victory in the opener and build a 1-0 lead in the match.

USI battled back from deficits of 13-9 and 18-16 to gain a win in the second game. The Eagles closed the second set by winning nine of the final 10 rallies as they went up 2-0 heading into the intermission.

The Eagles opened the third game with a 9-4 run and used a 5-1 push later in the frame to extend their lead to 15-8. Saint Joseph's (9-12, 2-10 GLVC) got back to within three points later in the set, but a 5-1 USI spurt ended the Pumas' comeback as the Eagles held on for another seven-point win to close the match.

In addition to LaGrange, sophomore middle blocker Emily Diedrich hammered down nine kills to go with a .389 attacking percentage and four blocks. Sophomore setter Jorae Bradbury, who is averaging 14.5 assists per set in her last two outings, finished with 39 assists and 13 digs as the Eagles hit .248 as a team.

Sophomore libero Kayla Heldman added a match-high 20 digs, while senior defensive specialist Krista Coccaro chipped in 14 digs for the Eagles, who have won their last six GLVC matches.

USI has the opportunity to pull into a tie for first place in the GLVC when it hosts No. 21 University of Indianapolis Saturday at 3 p.m. at the PAC. The Greyhounds (15-5, 11-1 GLVC) defeated Kentucky Wesleyan College in four sets Friday night in Owensboro, Kentucky.