NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Despite getting a combined 19 kills and a .342 attacking percentage from senior middle hitter Amy Zwissler (Bloomington, Indiana) and junior middle hitter Te'Ayla Whitfield (Fort Wayne, Indiana), University of Southern Indiana Volleyball suffered a 25-22, 25-21, 25-21 road loss to Midwest Region foe Trevecca Nazarene University Tuesday night.
 
Early deficits hampered the Screaming Eagles throughout the match as they found themselves playing catch-up in each set.
 
In the opener, USI trailed 15-11 before roaring back to take a 19-17 lead. The Eagles led 22-20, but the host Trojans scored five consecutive points to earn the three-point, set-one win.
 
After rallying from a five-point deficit to forge a 15-15 tie in the second stanza, USI found itself on the opposite end of a 5-1 run that put Trevecca Nazarene in front, 20-16. The Eagles scored three straight points to close the gap to a single digit, but the Trojans won five of the next seven rallies to earn the four-point win and a two-set lead in the match.
 
USI (5-4) fought back from deficits of 8-4 and 14-11 in the third frame, but a late 6-2 Trevecca Nazarene surge put the Eagles in a 23-18 deficit they could not climb out of.
 
The Eagles were held to a .168 attacking percentage for the match, while Trevecca Nazarene (5-4) hit .200 for the match, including .318 in the third frame.
 
Zwissler finished with 11 kills and five blocks to lead the Eagles, while Whitfield had eight kills and a .353 attacking percentage. Sophomore setter Erika Peoples (Bloomington, Illinois) had 29 assists, while junior libero Shannon Farrell (Munster, Indiana) added a match-high 13 digs.
 
The Eagles open their 2016 home schedule Friday at 7 p.m. when they begin Great Lakes Valley Conference play against William Jewell College at the Physical Activities Center. They conclude their opening GLVC weekend Saturday at 3 p.m. when they host defending NCAA II Midwest Region champion Rockhurst University.
 
Friday's match features a free combo meal (includes a hot dog, chips and a bottled drink) for USI students with a valid ID; while USI students can enter a raffle to win a $500 Campus Store shopping spree each time they come to a USI Volleyball home match. The drawing is October 28 when the Eagles host Missouri University of Science & Technology.
 
All fans can participate in the Premiere Tan serving contest between sets two and three for all home matches.