QUINCY, Ill.—University of Southern Indiana Volleyball could not bounce back from seeing a late four-point lead slip away in the opening set as it fell to host Quincy University, 25-23, 25-23, 25-16, in a Great Lakes Valley Conference match Saturday afternoon.
The Screaming Eagles (6-7, 1-3 GLVC) led 18-14 late in the first set, but a 6-2 Quincy run tied the frame at 20-20. USI led 22-21 moments later, but a 3-0 Quincy run proved to be the back-breaker as the Eagles suffered the two-point loss.
In the second stanza, it was the Eagles that found themselves playing catch-up from the outset as the Lady Hawks built a commanding 17-9 advantage midway through the frame. USI trailed 24-19 later in the frame before fighting off four consecutive set-point opportunities to pull within a single tally.
Following a Quincy timeout, though, the Hawks (8-5, 3-1 GLVC) received a timely kill from Bekah Raebel to quell the Eagles' surge and build a commanding two-set lead in the match.
Quincy (8-5, 3-1 GLVC) used runs of 3-0 and 5-0 to pull away from the Eagles in the third frame and end the match in three sets.
Freshman outside hitter
Mikaila Humphrey (Floyd Knobs, Indiana) had 13 kills to lead the Eagles, offensively, while junior middle hitter
Te'Ayla Whitfield (Fort Wayne, Indiana) finished with five blocks.
Junior libero
Shannon Farrell (Munster, Indiana) added 22 digs, while sophomore defensive specialist
Haley Limper (Springfield, Illinois) and junior outside hitter
Shelbi Morris (Brazil, Indiana) finished with 14 and 11 digs, respectively.
USI returns to action Friday at 7 p.m. when it hosts defending GLVC East Division champion McKendree University at the Physical Activities Center. The Eagles play their next six contests at the PAC before traveling to Aurora, Illinois, to take part in the Midwest Region Crossover.