EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball takes its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season against Eastern Illinois University in a dominant three-set sweep.
 
The Screaming Eagles handed the Panthers their first OVC loss of the season, as they hosted Dig Pink night to raise awareness for breast cancer.
 
Set 1: USI 25, EIU 20
The Screaming Eagles came out strong in their first OVC match in Liberty Arena, maintaining the lead after the third point. Senior Bianca Anderson and junior Leah Coleman led the court with five kills each. Junior Ashby Willis picked up four digs. The Eagles challenged EIU from the service line, landing four aces.
 
Set 2: USI 25, EIU 23
USI pumped up their offensive production in the second set, tallying 19 kills as a team for a .422 hitting percentage with no errors. Kills were led by Coleman, who added another six to the board. Willis recorded six kills, as well, to bring her total to eight, while she led the team with seven more digs.
 
Set 3: USI 25, EIU 19
The Eagles came in dominant for the final set, taking the lead after two points and maintaining it to the end. Anderson led the offense with four kills, followed by Willis and freshman Carley Wright with three each. The defense kept EIU to their lowest hitting percentage of the game, picking up 21 digs and three blocks.
 
As a team, the Eagles tallied their second-highest hitting percentage of the season at .342, making just eight errors, the lowest in a game since the 2021 season. Three Eagles reached double-digit kills, led by Anderson and Coleman with 12 each.
 
Freshman setter Aysa Thomas marked her eighth consecutive double-double with 39 assists and 10 digs. Willis marked her sixth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 15 digs, which led the team.
 
Next up, the Eagles are back in Liberty Arena tomorrow to take on the Panthers for the second game of the series. Fans can follow USI Athletics on Facebook, Instagram, and X for game coverage and online at usiscreamingeagles.com.