Anderson makes history in final non-conference match

DEKALB, Ill. – Junior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois) made history Saturday afternoon at Victor E. Court when she became the 15th player in program history to accumulate 1,000 career kills. Anderson’s feat, however, was not enough as the University of Southern Indiana (0-11, 0-0 OVC) capped off non-conference play with a 3-0 loss (15-25, 21-25, 22-25) to Northern Illinois University (7-3).
 
The Eagles could not control the Huskies’ powerful attackers, falling 25-15 in the opening frame. USI began the set with big kills from sophomore middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana) and sophomore outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana) to make it 3-2. NIU retaliated by going on a 7-2 run that resulted in a 9-5 USI deficit. After the Eagles cut the gap to just two, the Huskies went on a 6-0 surge from six straight kills. Down 18-10, USI got back into the game with kills from Weber and sophomore outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) that pull the Eagles within six, but it was too late as the Huskies tallied six of the final eight points to claim a 1-0 match lead. As a team, USI had eight kills compared to NIU’s 18 kills.
 
Despite a valiant comeback, the Eagles watched the second set slip out of reach as the Huskies claimed the 25-21 victory. The frame kicked off with a 5-1 gap in NIU’s favor where USI’s sole point came from an Anderson kill. With the score at 10-6, Anderson was able to strike down her third kill to claim the 1,000-kills…