#3 Southwest Minnesota State (4-0): 3
Southern Indiana (0-6): 0
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Northwest Missouri State (4-2): 3
Southern Indiana: 1
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ROLLA, Mo.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team's rough start to the 2012 campaign continued Friday as it suffered a 25-19, 25-19, 25-20 loss to No. 3 Southwest Minnesota State University and a 23-25, 25-20, 25-11, 25-21 setback to Northwest Missouri State University at the “Middle of Everywhere” Classic.
After suffering a six-point loss in the opening set against Southwest Minnesota State (4-0), the Screaming Eagles found themselves clinging to a 10-8 lead early in the second set. The Mustangs, though, used a 6-2 spurt to reverse their fortunes before closing the frame with a 7-3 push to build a two-set lead in the match.
USI (0-6) had a slim one-point advantage midway through the third set, but a 4-1 Southwest Minnesota State spurt put the Eagles into a 16-13 deficit before a late 3-0 run allowed the Mustangs to put separation between the two teams.
Sophomore outside hitters
Lauren DeShaney and
Fawn Ryan each collected 10 kills to lead the Eagles, while freshman middle blocker
Abbey Winter had a pair of kills and five blocks in her first collegiate match.
The Eagles overcame a sluggish start to their match against Northwest Missouri State as they used an 8-0 run to turn an 8-4 deficit into a four-point cushion in the opening set. The Eagles, who hit .176 in the first set, held off a late charge to claim a two-point win in the first stanza and a one-set lead in the match.
Northwest Missouri State (4-2), however, bounced back as it used a 9-3 start to propel it to a five-point win in the second frame. The Bearcats opened the third frame with 11 straight points to claim a 14-point victory in the third set and a 1-0 lead in the match.
USI succumbed to another slow start in the fourth set as it saw the Bearcats surge to a 9-4 advantage. The Eagles, who later trailed 18-11, rallied to within two points on several occasions, but a pair of kills by Whitney Mason allowed the Bearcats to hold off the Eagles' push and pull out the four-set win.
Winter and senior right side hitter
Emily Meyer each had eight kills to pace the Eagles' offensive, while DeShaney and junior middle blocker
Emily Diedrich added five and six blocks, respectively. Junior libero
Kayla Heldman finished with 22 digs.
USI returns to action Saturday at 9 a.m. when it takes on Midwest Region foe Northern Michigan University. The Eagles conclude the weekend Saturday at 3 p.m. with a match against Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
