EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Senior middle blocker Abbey Winter (Germantown, Illinois) broke the all-time record for career block assists, but it was in a losing effort as the University of Southern Indiana volleyball team's upset bid of No. 6 Wayne State College (Nebraska) fell short in a 22-25, 25-21, 16-25, 17-25 setback in the championship match of the Dunn Hospitality Invitational Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center.
 
Winter, who finished the match with 12 kills and eight blocks, including seven block assists, now has 378 block assists in her four-year career with the Screaming Eagles. The former record of 375 was established by Ashley Henricks from 2006-09.
 
Wayne State (4-0) used an early 7-1 run to build an early 11-6 edge in the opening set. USI later cut a six-point deficit to just two points, but that was as close as the Eagles would get as the Wildcats closed out the three-point victory.
 
USI (2-1) jumped out to an early 8-3 lead in the second frame, but a 7-0 Wayne State run put the Wildcats in front 10-8. After the two teams battled back-and-forth throughout the next several rallies, USI used a 4-0 spurt to break a 20-20 stalemate.
 
After a Wayne State sideout, senior right side hitter Erica Oberbroeckling (Westfield, Indiana) slammed down a kill for the final point as USI knotted the match up at a set each.
 
Wayne State, however, took the wind out of USI's sails as it won the first five points of the third frame and seven of the first eight rallies to take a 7-1 lead. USI never recovered as the Wildcats earned the nine-point win and a one-set lead in the contest.
 
Another slow start to the fourth set also proved to be too much for the Eagles to overcome, despite a late push. USI fell behind, 9-2, before trimming the deficit to four points at 19-15; but Wayne State won six of the next eight rallies to end the Eagles' comeback attempt.
 
In addition to Winter, who had a .500 attacking percentage, USI got 10 kills and 14 digs from Oberbroeckling as well as 33 assists and 16 digs from junior setter Quin Shoulz (Columbus, Indiana). Sophomore libero Shannon Farrell (Munster, Indiana) added 18 digs, while sophomore outside hitter Shelbi Morris (Brazil, Indiana) had eight kills and 11 digs.
 
USI concludes the Dunn Hospitality Invitational Saturday at 7 p.m.