Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Eastern Illinois volleyball team (4-10, 0-4 OVC) suffered a defeat at the hands of Southern Indiana (8-9, 3-2 OVC) on Friday afternoon in Groniger Arena. The final set scores were 23-25, 20-25, 16-25. 

The opening set was also the match's most competitive. The frame featured four lead changes as neither team was able to gain more than a three-point advantage. However, it was the Screaming Eagles who ultimately prevailed with a narrow two-point victory. Matilda Dahlström picked up right where she left off on Thursday with a team-high four kills.

Eastern gained a brief 5-4 lead in the second set, but six unanswered points from USI quickly put the Panthers in an early five-point hole. EIU closed the gap to three on multiple occasions, but came no closer as Southern Indiana was able to keep the Panthers at arm's length to take the set.

The third set featured a 6-0 run from USI and 5-0 run from EIU that brought the score to 15-14 at the midway point. However, the Screaming Eagles found another gear with a 10-2 run to close out the set and win the match.

Matilda Dahlström led EIU in kills for the second consecutive outing with nine terminations in the match while also adding a pair of blocks.

Ireland Hieb matched Dahlström's 10-point showing with seven kills and a match-high six-blocks assists as Eastern out-blocked USI 7.0 to 5.0.

Ariadna Pereles posted another double-digit digs performance with 12 on the afternoon.

Eastern will continue conference play next week with a trip to Macomb to take on Western Illinois. Match one is set for Thursday, October 10th at 6 p.m., followed by match two at 4 p.m. on Friday.