EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Volleyball broke a 14-match losing streak that dating back to the 2016 season as it earned a pair of Midwest Region victories at the Dunn Hospitality Invitational Friday at the Physical Activities Center.

The Screaming Eagles (2-4) began the day with a 25-22, 25-13, 25-14 victory over Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference newcomer Purdue University Northwest before closing the night out with a 25-17, 16-25, 25-23, 29-27 triumph over Great Midwest Athletic Conference member Cedarville University.

USI returns to action Saturday when it hosts Midwest Region foe Northwood University at 2 p.m. and the University of North Alabama at 7 p.m.

Southern Indiana def. Purdue Northwest 25-22, 25-13, 25-14
Freshman outside hitter Alyssa Yochum (Columbia, Illinois) racked up 12 kills and a .545 attacking percentage as the Eagles earned a three-set victory over Purdue Northwest (1-5). It was USI's first win of the year and its first since October 14, 2016.

USI used a 4-0 run late in the opening frame to break a 16-16 tie. The Eagles hit .333 in the first set, including six kills and a .750 clip from Yochum, to earn the three-point win.

The Eagles dominated the second frame, racking up a .375 attacking percentage en route to a 12-point win. Led by senior middle hitter Te'Ayla Whitfield (Fort Wayne, Indiana), the Eagles had five different players with at least two kills in the second stanza. Whitfield converted four of her five swings into kills as USI built a comfortable two-set cushion.

USI used a 12-2 run to break an early 5-5 tie and build a commanding double-digit lead in the third set. Freshman setter Casey Cepicky (St. Louis, Missouri) had 10 of her match-high 37 assists in the final frame, while sophomore middle hitter Elexis Coleman (Joliet, Illinois) had four of her six kills and one of her four blocks in USI's 11-point win.

The Eagles also got nine kills and a .500 attacking percentage from sophomore middle hitter Shawntel James (Elkhart, Indiana) as well as eight kills and 15 digs from sophomore outside hitter Mikaila Humphrey (Floyd Knobs, Indiana). Senior libero Shannon Farrell (Munster, Indiana) led the Eagles' back row with a match-high 17 digs.

Southern Indiana def. Cedarville 25-17, 16-25, 25-23, 29-27
USI rallied from a 17-15 deficit in the fourth frame to close out the visiting Yellow Jackets in four sets and earn its second straight win. The Eagles scored four straight points and won six of the next seven rallies to forge a three-point lead.

After failing to put Cedarville away on their previous four match-point opportunities, the Eagles got a kill from sophomore right side hitter Amanda Jung (Belleville, Illinois) as well as a block from Coleman and junior setter Erkia Peoples (Bloomington, Illinois) to complete the four-set victory.

After a pair of blowouts in the opening two frames, USI used an 8-2 push to build a 24-19 lead late in the third stanza. Cedarville, however, fought off set point four times before a kill by Humphrey slammed the door on the Cedarville comeback bid, giving the Eagles a two-point win and one-set lead in the match.

Humphrey was instrumental in the Eagles' win, racking up 19 kills on 57 swings to go along with 10 digs. Coleman and Jung each had nine kills while combining for five blocks and a .457 attacking percentage, Whitfield added a match-high seven blocks.

In just two sets, Peoples finished with 26 assists, while senior defensive specialist Jessica Lee (Mackinaw, Illinois) and senior libero Shannon Farrell (Munster, Indiana) compiled 15 and 14 digs, respectively.