Eagles lose a tight battle and split the series with the Cougars

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (9-10) falls in a nail biter to the Cougars of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (8-9) at home on Saturday afternoon at Screaming Eagles Arena 3-2 (25-15, 25-23, 25-19, 25-18, 17-15). This match drops the Screaming Eagles conference record to 5-3.
 
Eagles use an efficient offensive set to dominate the first set, 25-15. Both teams traded blows to start the game before the Eagles erupted on a five-point run to gain the lead at 13-8. The run was highlighted by four assists from junior setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana). The Eagles continued to roll offensively capped off with an emphatic third kill of the set by junior middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana). An impressive match high .364 hitting percentage helped set the tone.
 
USI battled to win a tight second set, 25-23. Multiple Cougar attacking errors helped the Eagles build a quick 5-0 lead. However, the Cougars woke up going on multiple runs taking a late 22-20 lead. Clutch kills from senior outside/right hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio), junior outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana), and Downing fueled a late Eagles comeback to take the second set, 25-23.
 
Cougars built an early lead that proved to be too much to handle in the third set, 25-19. SIUE mounted a 5-0 run to gain an early 8-3 advantage. The Eagles fought back with a four-point run of their own led by two kills from Bednar. The Cougar lead was cut to 21-18 before three powerful kills and an Eagle attacking error finished the third set. A match high 15 kills for SIUE was the difference.
 
A massive eight point run by the Cougars helped secure a fourth set win, 25-18. USI trailed 9-4 to start the set after an eight-point swing. Leah Anderson added four kills in the set to get the Eagles as close as 18-16. However, the Cougars shut the door collecting six of the final seven points. USI was held to a match low .054 hitting percentage.
 
An intense final set went all the way down to the wire with the Eagles falling just short, 17-15. Both teams traded punches as sophomore middle hitter Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) landed two set kills to put the Eagles up 15-14. SIUE would take the next three points to nab the match victory.
 
Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Keira Moore…