AURORA, Ill.—In a match where no lead was safe, the University of Southern Indiana volleyball team found itself as the victor as it defeated Wayne State University 27-25, 29-27, 20-25, 26-24 Saturday morning at the Mizuno/Midwest Region Crossover.
USI (13-7) rallied from an early six-point deficit and a late four-point hole to steal a two-point win in the opening frame; then roared out of a 15-6 abyss to earn a two-point win in the second set and build a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Screaming Eagles hit .341 in the first frame; then fought of five set-points in the second stanza to earn the two-set advantage.
USI saw an early three-point lead in the third set fall by the wayside as the Warriors rallied to earn a five-point win. Wayne State (7-13) used a 6-1 run late in the frame to break a 16-16 stalemate and cut the Eagles' match lead in half.
In the final set, it was the Eagles who saw a large lead evaporate as Wayne State rallied from an 18-11 deficit to take a late one-point advantage.
The Eagles, however, forced a Wayne State attacking error to deny the Warriors on a set-point opportunity; then got a kill from sophomore outside hitter
Shelbi Morris (Brazil, Indiana) to go up 25-24. Morris and senior middle blocker
Abbey Winter (Germantown, Illinois) combined for a block on the next rally to secure the two-point win and four-set victory.
Junior outside hitter/middle blocker
Amy Zwissler (Bloomington, Indiana) had a career-high 17 kills and a .485 attacking percentage to lead the Eagles offensively. Winter added 11 kills, a .350 attacking percentage, and nine blocks, while Morris finished with 12 kills and 10 digs.
USI also got double-doubles out of senior right side hitter
Erica Oberbroeckling (Westfield, Indiana) and freshman setter
Erika Peoples (Bloomington, Illinois). Oberbroeckling finished with 13 kills, 12 digs, and three blocks; while Peoples had 50 assists, 12 digs, and five blocks.
As a team, the Eagles hit .259 and racked up 14 blocks. USI had three blocks in the first, third, and fourth frames and five blocks in set two.
The Eagles conclude the Midwest Region Crossover at 4 p.m. when they take on Lake Superior State University.
