EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (3-7) earned their first win over University of Evansville (1-9) as a NCAA Division I program on Tuesday night, 3-1. The Screaming Eagles won three straight sets dominating the Purple Aces (22-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-22) in the first of two games this week against Evansville. 
 
Senior Carly Sobieralski was locked in tying her season high in assists of 49 in only four sets. Sobieralski also finished with her seventh double-double of the season at 49 assists and 13 digs.
 
Set 1: USI 22, UE 25
The Purple Aces jumped out to an early 13-9 advantage with a .479 hitting percentage. Senior Paris Downing, junior Bianca Anderson, and sophomore Ashby Willis brought the Eagles back within one with three straight kills. Sophomore Leah Coleman (Hoover, Alabama) joined the attack swatting her third kill of the set as USI trailed 19-21. The USI defense struggled to defend Evansville's attack consistently as the Purple Aces finished the set with a .385 hitting percentage.
 
Set 2: USI 25, UE 19
Junior Keira Moore helped the Eagles gain the early advantage with two service aces. UE went a 11-3 charge with the help of three service aces of their own. Four straight points brought the Eagles within four after freshman Kerigan Fehr tallied a service ace and Downing recorded another kill and block. Anderson forced an Evansville timeout as the Eagles 7-1 scoring run gave USI the 19-17 lead. The junior did it again with four consecutive kills evening the match at one. Moore was on fire from the service line with four aces in the set. The Eagles surged on a scorching 17-5 run in the process.
 
Set 3: USI 25, UE 19
USI rode their momentum in set two as Willis feasted on the Purple Aces defense taking a 17-11 lead with four kills. Sobieralski spread the wealth to five different Eagles along the way with nine assists. UE struggled to string together back-to-back points as USI's production was top to bottom leading 20-14. Coleman helped the Eagles finish the set with two kills and a block. Sobieralski finished with 35 assists, averaging 11.67 per set. The Purple Aces struggled to squeeze kills past the Eagles stiff defense only hitting at a .146 clip.
 
Set 4: USI 25, UE 22
The Aces desperately needed to regain the momentum leading 6-4 early. However, the Eagles refused to slow down going on a 13-6 run as seven different Eagles recorded points to make it 17-11. Sobieralski dished out her 49^th assist to Coleman for her eighth kill to make it 24-17. Senior leader Abby Weber finished the Aces with a service ace.

Tonight's offensive production was balanced as five different Eagles tallied at least eight kills. Anderson and Willis couldn't be stopped each with a team-leading 15 kills. Sobieralski finished with 49 assists. Freshman Layla Gonzales, Moore, Sobieralski, Weber, and Willis all totaled double-digit digs as Moore led the way with 15. Downing stepped up totaling five blocks, recording 13 in her past three games.
 
As a team, USI totaled 59 kills, 55 assists, 77 digs, seven blocks, ten aces, and a .266 hitting percentage. UE finished with 50 kills, 47 assists, 61 digs, nine aces, and a .209 attacking percentage.
 
What's Next
The Eagles stay in town hosting the USI Invitational at Screaming Eagles Arena this weekend. The Eagles host Evansville for round two of the rivalry on Friday at 6 p.m. along with Indiana University Indianapolis on Saturday at 4 p.m. Friday night is a white out along with poster signing night to meet the Eagles and receive a signed poster after the game.