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at Southern Indiana (21-6, 12-2 GLVC)
Maryville University (8-21, 1-13 GLVC)
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EVANSVILLE, Ind.---Sophomore middle blocker Abbey Winter (Germantown, Illinois) recorded a match-high five blocks Saturday evening, as the University of Southern Indiana volleyball team blasted visiting Maryville University 25-19, 30-28, 25-19 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference bout at the Physical Activities Center.
 
Winter, who entered tonight's match needing two blocks to break the single-season record of 134 set in 2006 by Ashley Henricks, did so early in the opening frame and now has 138 total blocks under her belt.
 
The Screaming Eagles improve to 21-6, 12-2 GLVC, which is the best record USI has had this late in the season since 2004. The Saints drop to 8-21, 1-13 in conference play.
 
Junior outside hitter Fawn Ryan (Batesville, Indiana) and sophomore right side hitter Erica Oberbroeckling (Westfield, Indiana) led USI's attack with 12 kills apiece.
 
Defensively, senior libero Kayla Heldman (Greenwood, Indiana) led with a team-high 24 digs, while senior setter Jorae Bradbury (Decatur, Indiana) and senior defensive specialist Kristy Gerardot (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) added nine apiece.
 
Though Maryville picked up the first two points in set one, USI found its groove taking a 5-3 lead. The Saints tied the score eight times throughout the remainder of the set but could not overtake the Eagles. A kill by Winter, off a pass from Bradbury, ended the opening set in favor of USI, 25-19. The Eagles outhit the visiting Saints .316 to .068.
 
Though down 11-9 in the second frame Maryville continued to fight taking a 20-19 lead, forcing the Eagles to call a timeout. It was a back-and-forth battle the rest of the set as both teams vied for set point six times. USI prevailed however, grabbing a 2-0 lead and a 30-28 win.
 
The Eagles came back from intermission fired up, grabbing the first five points of the set. USI extended its lead later, putting down three-straight kills, forcing Maryville to call a timeout as they trailed 13-4. Back from the break, the Saints went on two 5-0 runs but it wasn't enough as USI eventually took the set, 25-19.
 
USI hosts the University of Missouri- St. Louis Sunday at 1 p.m. The Tritons improved to 15-13, 8-6 GLVC defeating Bellarmine University in three sets Saturday evening in Louisville, Kentucky.