EAST PEORIA, Ill.---University of Southern Indiana senior outside hitter
Lauren DeShaney (Appleton, Wisconsin) put down a match-high 18 kills against Truman State University in the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship Tournament, but it wouldn't be enough as the Screaming Eagles eventually fell in straight-sets to the Bulldogs Thursday evening.
Truman State dominated the opening frame, using a 5-0 run at the start to separate themselves from the Eagles. USI struggled to regain any sort of standing, as the Bulldogs built a 21-9 lead. Following three-straight blocks by the Eagles, however, TSU used a 4-2 run to take the first set, 25-14.
Southern Indiana's attacking game was silenced by TSU in the first frame, as the Bulldogs outhit USI .433 to .074. DeShaney led USI at the start of the second set with four kills.
USI battled with the Bulldogs in the following set, rallying for the lead, and closing in on TSU after following behind 10-6. Down 22-18, the Eagles worked to take the front position with a 3-0 run, but were halted by a TSU timeout. Following the break, the Bulldogs scored three-straight; clinching a 25-21 set two win.
The third frame was much like the second, as the Eagles rallied for the front position. Trailing the Bulldogs for much of the set, USI was able to tie it up at 18-18, following a 4-0 run. Again, TSU called a timeout to slow the momentum down, returning to the court to claim a 25-20 win.
Trailing DeShaney's 18 kills was fellow classmate
Fawn Ryan (Batesville, Indiana) who registered nine, along with two blocks.
Defensively, the Eagles were led by freshman libero
Jessica Lee (Mackinaw, Illinois) who totaled 13 digs, while sophomore
Quin Shoultz (Columbus, Indiana) came up with 11 of her own, along with a team-high 33 assists.
At the net, sophomore middle blocker
Amy Zwissler (Bloomington, Indiana) led with four blocks.
USI finishes their 2014 campaign at 19-11 overall, while the Bulldogs continue on, facing Missouri University of Science & Technology in the semifinal round.
