EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana (5-8) dropped their Ohio Valley Conference opener in four sets (25-23, 23-25, 21-25, 22-25) to Southeast Missouri State University (4-8) at Screaming Eagles Arena on Friday night. 
 
USI garnered an early set one lead but dropped three-straight sets to the preseason poll conference favorites. Junior Bianca Anderson delivered another strong performance with a season high 18 kills. Senior Abby Weber also secured a season high 15 digs.
 
Set 1: SEMO 23, USI 25
Senior Carly Sobieralski kept the Eagles within three points with nine assists before the first media timeout. Ten USI attacking errors helped SEMO lead 20-18 late in the set. However, a block from senior Paris Downing and a massive kill from graduate senior Jasmine Green helped catapult the Eagles to a one-point lead. The Redhawks seemed to take the momentum straight back with a 23-22 lead, but freshman Layla Gonzales, Anderson, and Sobieralski led the Eagles to a three-point set closing run. Green and Anderson both finished the set with four kills. Multiple strenuous set rallies with stiff defense led both teams to tallying low hitting percentages as the Redhawks finished at .047, while the Eagles hit 0.085. The set victory marked the third first set win of the season.
 
Set 2: SEMO 25, USI 23
The Redhawks mounted an early five point run aided by four USI errors. The Eagles surged on a six-point run of their own with three-straight kills from Anderson. Another patented Downing block and service ace from freshman Kerigan Fehr gave the Eagles a 14-11 lead. SEMO charged back with a strong 7-1 run to regain the lead. Sobieralski continued to feed Anderson with the hot hand with five set two kills to pull within one at 22-23. SEMO made the clutch plays at the end of the set to even the game at one. USI struggled to minimize the errors once again with 11 in the set opposed to SEMO's seven.
 
Set 3: SEMO 25, USI 21
Sophomore Leah Coleman and Downing traded five early kills to keep the Eagles within one at 12-13. Sophomore Ashby Willis came alive with two kills to stay within one at 17-18. However, the Eagles struggled to string together more than two straight points falling in set three. The Redhawks attacked in every direction with an efficient .394 hitting percentage. SEMO also gave USI fits defensively with 12 blocks.
 
Set 4: SEMO 25, USI 22
Junior setter Jordan Troutman entered the game in set four provided an early spark dishing out six early assists to Downing and Green as the set was tied at six. Anderson took over once again with three kills as the Eagles led 13-7. Coleman took her turn making it 16-11 with three kills of her own. The Redhawks quickly swung the momentum with a dangerous attack finishing the set on a 14-6 run.
 
Anderson produced her best statistical night offensively with a team leading 18 kills. Sobieralski continued stacked up 35 assists and 13 digs for another double-double. Defensively, Weber led the way with 15 digs, while Downing added another solid night at the net with four blocks. Willis placed three service aces.
 
The statistical difference was evident USI created far too many errors to win the match. However, the Redhawks elite ability to produce blocks played a massive difference in night one of the conference opening weekend.

As a team, USI finished with 59 kills, 54 assists, 77 digs, six aces, six blocks, and a .122 attacking percentage. The Redhawks earned 46 kills, 42 assists, 69 digs, five aces, 19 blocks, and a .158 hitting percentage.
 
What's Next
The Eagles stay at Screaming Eagles Arena for a rematch tomorrow at 4 p.m. against SEMO.