CEDARVILLE, Ohio—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team saw a one-set lead slip away as it fell to Midwest Region foe Cedarville University 25-16, 19-25, 24-26, 20-25 Tuesday evening.

USI (10-3) dominated the opening frame, using a 7-1 run to grab an early 16-9 advantage before extending its lead to double digits late in the set.

Sophomore outside hitter Shelbi Morris (Brazil, Indiana) had seven kills and hit .667 in the opening frame as USI earned a first-set victory for the 11th time this season.

Cedarville (7-8), however, used a relentless attack in the second frame that featured 17 kills off 41 attack attempts to earn the six-point win and even the match at a set apiece.

USI's attack, which posted a .277 hitting percentage through the first two sets, fizzled in the third frame as the Eagles hit just .085. Cedarville used a 3-0 run to forge a late two-point advantage in the third set; then, on its second attempt at set-point, closed the two-point victory with a kill from sophomore outside hitter Krissy Pratt.

The Yellow Jackets used an early 8-2 run in the fourth set to build a commanding 13-7 lead. USI trimmed the deficit to three points later in the frame, but a 4-0 Cedarville push put the Eagles in a 20-13 deficit they could not recover from.

Senior right side hitter Erica Oberbroeckling (Westfield, Indiana) had 17 kills, a .311 attacking percentage, and 13 digs to lead the Eagles. Morris added 14 kills and 12 digs, while freshman outside hitter Mary Kate Byrnes (Chicago, Illinois) chipped in 11 kills.

Junior setter Quin Shoultz (Columbus, Indiana) had 36 assists and seven digs, while sophomore libero Shannon Farrell (Munster, Indiana) and freshman defensive specialist Haley Limper (Springfield, Illinois) finished with 17 and 12 digs, respectively. Senior middle blocker Abbey Winter (Germantown, Illinois) added nine blocks and seven kills.

The Eagles, who lost for the first time this season when winning the opening set, return to Great Lakes Valley Conference play Friday at 7 p.m. when they travel to Lebanon, Illinois, to take on McKendree University.