EVANSVILLE, Ind.--- The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team opened the 2015 season with a three-set sweep of Kentucky Wesleyan College University (25-13, 26-24, 25-23) Friday afternoon during its first round of the Dunn Hospitality Invitational at the Physical Activities Center.
 
Senior middle blocker Abbey Winter (Germantown, Illinois) led the Screaming Eagles (1-0) offense with a team-best 15 kills, to help the Screaming Eagles out-hit the Panthers .372 to .273. Winter also took care of business at the net, racking up three blocks.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Shelbi Morris (Brazil, Indiana) aided the Eagles' attack with 14 kills, while junior setter Quin Shoultz (Columbus, Indiana) recorded 38 assists.
 
The Eagles breezed through the first set, as USI raced out to a 5-2 lead in the early stages. The Panthers closed within one at 6-5 before USI closed with a 19-8 run to end the set.
 
The final two sets of the match would not come as easily for USI, as Kentucky Wesleyan jumped out to a 10-4 advantage in the second set fueled by four Eagles' errors. After trailing 15-9, USI earned the lead by stringing together seven straight points, culminated by a Quin Shoultz kill.

Wesleyan responded by recording eight of the next ten points and jumping back out to a 23-18 advantage. USI was not done as the Eagles roared back with a 3-0 run of their own to draw within two at 23-21. USI stole victory in the second set with a final 5-1 run to close out a 26-24 victory.

The final set featured similar suspense as KWC and USI tussled to 11 ties. The Eagles earned a key advantage at 23-21 before the teams traded points four times ending in a 25-23 USI triumph.

USI earns its third-straight season opening victory and continues their run in the Dunn Hospitality Invitational with a 7 p.m. bout against Midwest Region foe Northwood University. The Eagles finish tournament action Saturday with a 2 p.m.. match against Southwest Baptist University before their 7 p.m. contest with No. 6 Wayne State College.