#14 Northern Kentucky (10-0, 5-0 GLVC): 3
at Southern Indiana (6-3, 4-1 GLVC): 0
-Line Score: 25-21, 25-18, 25-16 (Box Score)

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team's battle for sole possession of first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division did not go according to plan Saturday as the Screaming Eagles fell to No. 14 Northern Kentucky University 25-21, 25-18, 25-16 at the Physical Activities Center.

USI (6-3, 4-1 GLVC) found itself on the opposite end of an 8-3 run in the opening frame as the visiting Norse stormed out to an early 16-10 lead. Northern Kentucky, behind a 43-assist effort from junior setter Jenna Schreiver, hit .324 in the opening set as it raced out to a one-game advantage in the match.

Northern Kentucky (10-0, 5-0 GLVC), which is off to its best start in the program's history, used an 8-2 run to end the second set and build a two-game advantage in the match. The Norse hit .607 in the third frame and used runs of 10-4 and 9-5 to wrap the match up in straight sets.

Senior outside hitters Noelle Peterson and Sarah Drennen combined 32 kills and a .566 attacking percentage for the Norse, who hit .437 as a team. Drennen had a match-high 19 kills, while Peterson finished with a match-high .619 hitting percentage.

Sophomore middle blocker Emily Diedrich finished with seven kills and a .462 attacking percentage to lead the Eagles, who lost for the first time in five matches. Senior middle blocker Danielle LaGrange chipped in a team-best nine kills but was limited to a .120 attacking percentage as the Norse finished with nine team blocks.

Sophomore setter Jorae Bradbury had a team-best 27 assists for the Eagles, who finished the match with a .136 attacking percentage.

USI returns to action Friday at 6 p.m. (CDT) when it travels to Indianapolis, Indiana, to take on the University of Indianapolis.