WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
@Southern Indiana 3, UT Martin 1
@Eastern Illinois 3, Western Illinois 2
Lindenwood 3, @Southeast Missouri 2
@Little Rock 3, SIUE 1
Morehead State 3, @Tennessee State 2
SOUTHERN INDIANA 3, UT MARTIN 1
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (14-15, 10-8 OVC) hit a season-high four-game winning streak after taking down the University of Tennessee at Martin (8-20, 6-12 OVC) in the regular season finale, 3-0 (26-24, 25-17, 25-21), at Screaming Eagles Arena Thursday afternoon. The Screaming Eagles await their seed and opponent in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Championship.
An early advantage gave USI the upper hand late in the opening set, 26-24. The Eagles led early after a 5-0 run that included kills from senior outside hitter Leah Anderson and junior middle blocker Lauren O'Neill which resulted in a 7-2 lead. UT Martin slowly inched back throughout the game and later took a one-point lead. However, the Eagles' offense struck with six kills in the last six points to claim the victory. Senior outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar and Leah Anderson claimed three kills apiece in the final push. In the set, USI secured a match-high 18 kills with a 0.279 hitting percentage.
The Eagles commanded the entire second frame, posting a 25-17 victory. USI was able to get a quick lead after kills from Bednar and sophomore libero/defensive specialist Keira Moore and continued to add on with three kills from sophomore middle hitter Bianca Anderson to go up 10-8. The Eagles would go on to score seven of the next 10 points to extend their lead to five. The Skyhawks would not go down easily as they cut the deficit to 19-16 after posting six kills in their own run. USI was able to hold off UT Martin's late rally thanks to back-to-back kills from freshman outside hitter Leah Coleman that started a set-sealing 6-1 run for the Eagles. USI's offense played flawlessly in the second set, earning 16 kills with no errors and a stellar 0.533 hitting percentage. The Eagles' defense stood tall in the game, allowing a match-low 10 kills.
UT Martin pulled away with an early lead, but it was USI's late surge that spoiled the Skyhawks' comeback and handed the Eagles the 25-21 victory in the final set. Trailing 9-6, USI caught fire and went on a 7-2 run that flipped the script. During the stint, Leah Anderson tallied four kills while Coleman tacked on a pair of kills. UT Martin quickly retaliated and knotted the game up and later held a 20-19 advantage. As the Eagles proved before, no lead is safe late in a set as USI recorded six of the final seven points to claim the victory. It was another offensive slugfest in the last set with the Eagles totaling 17 kills and a 0.342 attacking percentage.
Despite USI being down two starters, the Eagles' fresh lineup filled the holes nicely. Leah Anderson stepped up with 17 kills with a whopping 0.405 hitting percentage off 37 total attacks. Her streak for consecutive double-digit kill performances is now at nine. Also securing double-digit kills were Bednar with 11 kills and a pair of aces along with Coleman who had a career-high 10 kills and three blocks to pair with seven digs in her second career start. Sobieralski posted a match-high 38 assists to go along with 15 digs for her fourth-straight double-double. Also getting more playing time was O'Neill who tacked on a pair of blocks and three kills.
As a team, the Eagles posted 51 kills, 45 assists, and three aces to pair with 50 digs and three blocks. The Skyhawks recorded 40 kills, 34 assists, and four aces to go along with 44 digs and one block.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 3, WESTERN ILLINOIS 2
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois volleyball team (25-4, 15-3 OVC) celebrated Senior Day with an exciting comeback win in Lantz Arena, as they overcame Western Illinois 3-2 (25-18, 23-25, 21-25, 25-19, 15-10) on Thursday. Five EIU seniors were recognized before the match for their commitment and contributions to the Panthers volleyball program. Since the first of them arrived on campus in 2020, the team has improved their record each season, culminating with this year's OVC regular season title.
One of those seniors, Giovana Larregui López, got things started for the Panthers with nine kills in the first set as Eastern cruised to a 1-0 lead. Fellow seniors Ella Collins and Emily Wilcox had four kills each in the set, with Wilcox recording a red hot .800 attack percentage. Meanwhile, Sylvia Hasz started off her night with a huge 17 assists in the frame, as the Panthers recorded 21 total kills on team hitting percentage of .436.
Also in the opening set, Christina Martinez had eight digs in her only action of the match, while Natalie Mitchem recorded a pair of kills. Mitchem would pick up three more kills in set two before getting the rest of the evening off.
Collins and Wilcox kept the tag team going in set two, with both players smashing six kills as Hasz racked up another 15 assists. However, the Leathernecks were able to squeak out a win to even the match at one set apiece. In the following set, WIU picked up another win to take a 2-1 lead, as Ella Collins again led the EIU attack with six kills along with Tori Mohesky.
The Panthers fell into a 5-0 hole is set two, but refused to go down easy, responding with a 6-0 run to capture the lead. The teams then traded a couple of lead changes before another Panthers' run put EIU up for good. Ella Collins continued to steal the show, this time racking up a team-leading seven kills in the set.
In the extra set, EIU finished off the regular season with an emphatic 7-1 run to close out the match. Sylvia Hasz handed out 10 assists in the set while Ella Collins accounted for half of Eastern's ten kills, which brough her match total to 28.
LINDENWOOD 3, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 2
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Lindenwood women's volleyball (15-14, 11-7 OVC) secured the #3 seed in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament next week as they took down Southeast Missouri State (20-9, 12-6 OVC) in five sets. The Lions posted 58 kills and 11 service aces in their 15th win of the season.
Addy McAleer was the hero on Thursday picking up a double-double with a team-high 17 kills and 11 digs. She was 17 for 49 on attacks and had a hitting percentage of .224. She also had two of Lindenwood's 11 service aces.
Ashley Geluck had her second straight strong performance against SEMO with 12 kills on 24 attempts with a .375 hitting percentage. Anna Kraemer also contributed 10 kills and seven digs in the win.
Lindenwood picked up the early set one victory by a final score of 25-22. McAleer was the catalyst on offense in the first set registering five kills on nine attempts. The Lions had six service aces in the first set alone while holding SEMO to a .156 hitting percentage.
Southeast Missouri went on to win the next two sets on Thursday with scores of 20-25 and 17-25. The Lions were held to just .147 and .079 hitting percentages in those two sets. The Redhawks capitalized on a big third set with a .344 hitting percentage and 13 kills.
Allie Otten settled the offense down from the setter spot in the fourth set and helped Lindenwood pick up a 25-19 set win. Otten had 10 assists and six digs in the set and helped Lindenwood hit .170. Nyah Wilson had four of her six kills in the set while McAleer added another five.
Coming down to the fifth set, Lindenwood trailed late going down 3-7. Kraemer led a comeback of her own posting three kills to help tie it at 10-10. Jessie Seidel had another huge ace along with a kill by McAleer helped the Lions take the lead, and eventually propelled LU to a five set win.
Otten had a team high 45 assists in the match with three kills, two aces and 18 digs for a double-double. Rebecca Janke also added nine kills and two aces in the win while Seidel collected 16 digs on defense.
LITTLE ROCK 3, SIUE 1
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The OVC Volleyball Championships will have a different look this year with the Little Rock Trojans set to make their first appearance in the conference tournament thanks to Thursday's ticket-punching win over SIEU at the Jack Stephens Center.
Little Rock (11-18, 8-10 OVC) completed a series sweep by scores of 25-17, 25-21, 17-25, and 25-18 to leapfrog the Cougars and secure the eighth and final seed in the tournament, which begins Monday. The Trojans will face top-seed and regular season champion Eastern Illinois on Monday at 1 pm in the opening round in Charleston, Ill., while the season ends for SIEU with a record of 13-16 and 7-11 in the OVC.
Little Rock will enter on a four-match win streak – its longest streak of the season – during which the Trojans moved from 10th place into the eighth spot. The Trojans never trailed in the first, second, and fourth sets and sent seniors Daria Burrows and Zanobia Willis out in style.
Daedrianna Cail led the team with 11 kills on .529 percent hitting, adding six blocks – her ninth game of the season with six or more blocks. Bella Cherry and Jeila Fullerton each added nine kills and Jaycee Kennedy added seven kills, matching her career high.
Kaylee Smith led the team with 20 assists to go with seven digs and three aces.Dariana Valencia added 19 assists and six digs, while Andrea Roman set a new career-high with 31 digs to lead all players.
Little Rock established itself from the onset, hitting .407 in the opening set and adding four blocks on the defensive side. The led by as many as seven in the second frame and took advantage of 15 SIUE errors. The Cougars bounced back in set three to hit .268 and tally six blocks. But the Trojans hit .250 in the deciding set, getting at least two kills from six different players, including Arianna Escudero, who closed out the match with a pair of kills.
MOREHEAD STATE 3, TENNESSEE STATE 2
NASHVILLE - The Morehead State volleyball team beat the Tennessee State Lady Tigers 3-2 (25-18, 14-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-12) Thursday on the road at Kean Hall Gymnasium to close out the regular season
The victory boosted the Eagles' record to 18-12 overall and 11-7 in OVC play.
The Eagles were led by a double-double from M.E. Hargan, who registered 14 kills and 12 digs on the day. Amelia Nott also added 14 kills to help the attack. On the defensive end, Peighton Isley chipped in with 17 digs to go with three blocks from Hollan Everett.
The Eagles seized an early lead, handily winning the first set 25-18. Morehead State never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 10-9 in a set that showcased three lead changes before the Eagles took over the lead.
Morehead State fell in set two 25-14 to tie the match 1-1. Morehead State trailed by as many as 11 points as Tennessee State grabbed the advantage for good at 4-3 in a set that was tied up three times before the Lady Tigers took over the lead.
Morehead State then got back on the winning track, emerging victorious in set three and taking a two sets to one lead in the match. The Eagles won the set 25-19. Morehead State trailed by as many as six points, but took the lead for good at 11-10 in a set that showcased two lead changes before the Eagles took over the lead. Morehead State's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four Tennessee State attacks in the stanza.
Morehead State couldn't finish off a four-set win as the Lady Tigers forced a fifth set with a 25-19 victory. The Eagles trailed by as many as nine points as Tennessee State grabbed the advantage for good at 7-6 and Morehead State wasn't able to recover in a set that was tied up four times before the Lady Tigers took over.
Morehead State and Tennessee State went back and forth all game, trading set wins until the Eagles took set five 15-12 and the match. Strong serving helped the Eagles take the fifth set and the match. Morehead State notched three aces in the set win. After the lead changed hands one time, the Eagles took control for good at 12-11 and rode that advantage to victory.