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Southern Indiana (19-6, 10-2): 3
at Truman State (17-8, 10-2): 1
Box Scores: HTML | Sortable
 
KIRKSVILLE, MO.--- The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team rallied after dropping the opening set for its second win against a ranked opponent this season, defeating No. 20 Truman State University 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20) Sunday night in Kirskville, Missouri.
 
The Screaming Eagles, who are now tied for first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division volleyball standings, improve to 19-6 overall, 10-2 GLVC, while the Bulldogs fall to 17-8 overall, 10-2 in league play.
 
Sophomore middle blocker Abbey Winter (Germantown, Illinois), sophomore right side hitter Erica Oberbroeckling (Westfield, Indiana) and junior outside hitter Fawn Ryan (Batesville, Indiana) combined for 35 of USI's 48 kills. Winter led the pack with a match-high 13 kills and seven blocks, while also adding two service aces.
 
Senior setter Jorae Bradbury and senior libero Kayla Heldman also tallied match highs with 39 assists and 32 digs, respectively.
 
The opening frame was an outright battle with no team leading with more than two points. With both teams tied at 20-20, the Bulldogs started firing on all cylinders gaining a 24-22 lead. A handling error by Bradbury ended the set in favor of Truman State, 25-22. Despite dropping game one, the Eagles outhit the Bulldogs, .310 to .220.
 
Game two was much like the first in that both teams vied for the lead. Tied at 12-12 the Eagles got the break they needed after back-to-back kills by Bradbury and Ryan. USI evened out the score, grabbing the second frame, 25-20.
 
Truman's offense fell apart in the third set, as more than half of USI's points came from Bulldog errors. Down 18-15, TSU called a timeout but it wasn't enough to slow the game down as the Eagles ran away with a 25-22 win and a 2-1 lead. 
 
The Bulldogs called the first timeout of the fourth game after committing five-straight errors, pushing USI to a 5-1 lead. The Eagles capitalized on the home team's early mistakes, holding the front position until the end. Up 17-15, Truman threatened USI's lead with a block off an attack by Ryan. However, the Eagles answered back with a 4-0 run that included three kills and a combined block by Ryan, Oberbroeckling and freshman middle blocker Amy Zwissler (Bloomington, Indiana). USI eventually took the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-1.
 
The Eagles continue road play tomorrow at 1 p.m. visiting the Hawks of Quincy University. USI begins its five-match homestand Friday, November 9, with a 7 p.m. match against Maryville University.