at #18 Northern Kentucky (23-4, 13-4 GLVC): 3
Southern Indiana (19-9, 13-4 GLVC): 1
Line Score: 25-16, 25-23, 17-25, 25-20 (Box Score)

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.—Senior middle blocker Danielle LaGrange had 15 kills and hit .308, but it wasn't enough for the University of Southern Indiana volleyball team to pull off an upset over No. 18 Northern Kentucky University Friday night in a Great Lakes Valley Conference tilt.

Northern Kentucky (23-4, 13-4 GLVC) scored five of the final six points to stop a late USI comeback attempt in the fourth set and earn the 25-16, 25-23, 17-25, 25-20 victory over the visiting Screaming Eagles at Regents Hall.

USI (19-9, 13-4 GLVC), which hit a dismal .031 in the opening set, fought back from a five-point deficit to get to within a point late in the second stanza. The Norse, however, won two straight rallies later in the frame to extend its advantage to 22-19; then traded points with the Eagles to gain the two-point win and build a two-set advantage in the match.

The Eagles, who hit .308 in the second game, roared back in the third set to take a 13-10 at the midway point. After a 4-0 Northern Kentucky run that briefly put the Eagles into a one-point deficit, USI won nine consecutive rallies to take a commanding 22-14 lead.

USI hit .333 in the third set to earn the eight-point win and cut the Norse's lead in the match in half.

Northern Kentucky jumped out to a commanding 18-12 in the fourth set, but the Eagles battled back with a 5-0 run to cut the Norse's lead to a single tally.

Trailing 20-19 later in the frame, USI watched the Norse win three straight rallies to extend their lead to four points. After a USI tally, NKU senior outside hitters Noelle Peterson and Sarah Drennen ended all hope for the Eagles as they recorded a kill and an ace, respectively, in the final two rallies to secure the Norse's second victory of the year over the Eagles.

In addition to LaGrange, freshman outside hitter Lauren DeShaney added 13 kills and a .235 attacking percentage for the Eagles, who can secure their first 20-win season since 2004 with a win Saturday. Sophomore libero Kayla Heldman added 16 digs, while sophomore middle blocker Emily Diedrich finished with five blocks.

USI finishes the regular season Saturday at 2 p.m. (CDT) when it travels to Louisville, Kentucky, to take on Bellarmine University. The Knights (13-11, 7-10 GLVC) defeated Kentucky Wesleyan College in three sets Friday night in Louisville.