Eagles suffer OVC conference opener loss to the Redhawks

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….