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at Southern Indiana (1-0): 3
University of North Alabama (0-1): 0
Box Scores: Sortable | Photos
 
EVANSVILLE, Ind.--- The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team opened the 2014 season with a solid all-around performance, sweeping University of North Alabama (25-16, 27-25, 25-16) Friday afternoon during its first round of the Dunn Hospitality Invitational at the Physical Activities Center.
 
Senior outside hitter Fawn Ryan (Batesville, Indiana) led the Southern Indiana (1-0) offence with a team-best 11 kills, to help the Screaming Eagles out-hit the Lions .222 to .109, while at the net, junior middle blocker Abbey Winter (Germantown, Illinois), led with a match-high four blocks, while contributing six kills and three aces.
 
Making her collegiate debut, freshman Jessica Lee (Mackinaw, Illinois) had an outstanding performance keeping the defensive pace, racking up a match-high 20 digs.
 
The Eagles didn't let a 2-0 run by UNA (0-1), in the opening set, put them down, as they regrouped to take a 10-6 lead, forcing the Lions to call a timeout. A six-point run by USI, following the one-minute break, put North Alabama behind by 10, which was a big enough difference for the visiting Lions to pause the game again.
 
Five kills by five different USI players extended the Eagle lead, but it was Ryan who sealed the deal with a kill off a pass from sophomore setter Quin Shoultz (Columbus, Indiana) to end the first set in favor of USI, 25-16. Shoultz, who transferred to USI after a season with University of Indianapolis, tallied a match-high 30 assists, while also racking up six kills and four digs. 
 
North Alabama came back fighting in the second set, capturing a 4-1 lead before the Eagles were able to tie it up at 7-7. Both teams battled for the lead as five more ties ensued before an attack error by UNA put the Eagles in position for set point, with a 24-23 score.
 
UNA's Natasha Fomina denied the Eagles the final point, with a kill off a pass from setter Andrea De Leon, but committed an error in the following play to set USI up again. The Eagles could not produce as Fomina denied them the win again with another kill, knotting the score at 25-25. Winter connected with Shoultz on back-to-back sets, putting down two kills to give the Eagles the 27-25 set-two win.
 
Junior right-side hitter Erica Oberbroeckling (Westfield, Indiana) tallied the first point of what would be the final set. Things only went up for the Eagles from there, as they kept the lead, pushing the Lions back as far as seven points, forcing UNA to call a timeout with the a 17-10 score.
 
There was no stopping USI as it continued to keep the seven-point difference alive, causing the Lions to call another timeout, down 22-15. Shoultz and Ryan contributed a kill apiece before Winter ended the set, and match, with a service ace.  
 
USI continues its run in the Dunn Hospitality Invitational with a 7 p.m. bout against Midwest Region foe Hillsdale College. The Eagles finish tournament action Saturday with an 11:30 a.m. match against Ohio Dominican University before their 7 p.m. go with No. 23 University of West Florida.