Lewis (22-9, 14-3 GLVC): 3
at Southern Indiana (16-14, 12-5 GLVC): 1
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EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Freshman right side hitter
Erica Oberbroeckling hammered down a career-high 19 kills and junior libero
Kayla Heldman racked up a career-high 32 digs; but it was not enough to lead the University of Southern Indiana volleyball team to a Great Lakes Valley Conference victory Friday night as Lewis University pinned a 23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-18 setback on the Screaming Eagles at the Physical Activities Center.
After rallying from four down to earn a two-point victory in the opening set, the Eagles suffered a severe blow when senior outside hitter
Abbi Williams suffered an injury in the second game that forced her to miss the remainder of the contest.
USI (16-14, 12-5 GLVC), which already has been dealing with the loss of junior middle blocker
Emily Diedrich, regrouped to take a 21-19 lead later in the frame, but the Flyers reeled off five of the next six points to take a 24-22 advantage.
The Eagles scored the next point to get to within one, but the Flyers' fifth block of the frame ensured a two-point Lewis win and sent the two teams into the intermission knotted up at a set apiece.
Lewis (22-9, 14-3 GLVC) wasted little time establishing themselves in the third set as they won eight of the first 10 rallies to gain an early six-point lead. USI briefly countered the Flyers' outburst as it won three straight points to cut the deficit to 8-5, but that was as close as the Eagles would get as Lewis cruised to a six-point win to take a one-set edge in the match.
USI stormed out in front early in the fourth frame, scoring four of the first five points to take an early lead, but the Flyers rallied back to tie the set at 5-5. The Flyers used a 10-2 spurt later in the frame to turn a one-point deficit into a comfortable 19-12 cushion.
The Eagles struggled with the Flyers' play at the net throughout the contest as USI hitters hit into 19 Lewis blocks.
In addition to Oberbroeckling, who also had two aces and eight digs, the Eagles got 10 kills apiece from sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker
Fawn Ryan and sophomore outside hitter
Lauren DeShaney.
Junior setter
Jorae Bradbury had a match-high 37 assists to go along with 11 digs, while freshman defensive specialist
Haley Bowden and junior outside hitter
Kristy Gerardot finished with 15 and 12 digs, respectively.
Heldman's 32 digs were just five short of USI's single-match school record of 37, which was set by Amber Gogel in 2007.
The Eagles conclude regular-season Saturday at 3 p.m. when they host the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for Senior Day at the PAC. The Rangers (20-9, 9-8 GLVC) defeated Kentucky Wesleyan College in four sets Friday night in Owensboro, Kentucky, to secure the eighth and final spot in next weekend's GLVC Tournament.
