at Southern Indiana (6-2, 4-0 GLVC): 3
Bellarmine (5-3, 1-3 GLVC): 0
-Line Score: 25-16, 25-18, 26-24 (Box Score)

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team stepped up its effort at the net in a big way Friday night as it racked up 15 team blocks in a 25-16, 25-18, 26-24 victory over Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division foe Bellarmine University in its home-opener at the Physical Activities Center.

USI (6-2, 4-0 GLVC), which remained in a tie atop the GLVC East Division standings with the victory, held the visiting Knights (5-3, 1-3 GLVC) to a .046 attacking percentage, including a negative .094 hitting percentage in the second set.

The Screaming Eagles set the tone early in the match as they recorded seven blocks in the first frame and held the Knights to a .000 attacking percentage. Freshman outside hitter Lauren DeShaney had four kills and a .429 attacking percentage in the opening frame as the Eagles stormed out to the early lead.

USI, which had five blocks in the second set, used a 10-4 run to close out the middle stanza to take a two-game lead into the intermission.

Senior middle blocker Danielle LaGrange had six of her match-high 13 kills in the third frame as USI fought off a Bellarmine set-point by winning the final three rallies to close the contest in straight sets. LaGrange finished with a .391 attacking percentage and four blocks as USI won its fourth straight match.

Sophomore middle blocker Emily Diedrich added six kills, a .444 attacking percentage, and eight blocks, while freshman outside hitter Fawn Ryan added five kills and eight blocks. Sophomore setter Jorae Bradbury finished with 27 assists, 13 digs, and six blocks, while sophomore libero Kayla Heldman added 12 digs.

The Eagles return to action Saturday at 3 p.m. when they host No. 14 Northern Kentucky University at the PAC. The Norse (9-0, 4-0 GLVC) swept Kentucky Wesleyan College in three sets Friday night in Owensboro, Kentucky.