EVANSVILLE, Ind.--The Truman Volleyball team came into today's tri-match winners of six of their last seven matches, and looked to continue their hot streak against two more GLVC opponents. In the first match, the Bulldogs hit .239 while holding the Bearcats to just .063 as they swept SBU 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-11) but the Bulldogs hit just .139 against the Screaming Eagles as they fell 3-1 (25-17, 25-19, 25-20, 25-23).

Game One

The Bulldogs hitting made quick work of the Bearcats. Emma Berthold and Hanna Berry tied for the team lead with eight kills each.

SBU jumped out to an early lead, and held a 12-9 edge before the Bulldogs made their move. A kill from Morgan Smith sparked a run in which the Bulldogs took seven of eight points to take a 16-13 lead. Emma Wollert also picked up a kill in the run. From there the Bulldogs would not trail again as they took the first set.

The second set started in the exact opposite way as TSU jumped out to a 5-0 lead, with two kills from Berry. SBU would rally back to tie the set at seven, but a 4-0 run by the Bulldogs took back the momentum. Katy Motz capped the stretch with an ace. Later with the set at 12-10, a 5-0 run by Truman gave them a seven point cushion and looked like it had decided the set. But SBU got within two at 22-20, but Truman held off the rally and Berry ended the set with another kill.

Truman jumped out quickly in the third set, and with the score at 14-8 an 8-0 stretch from the Bulldogs all but decided the set and the match.

Game Two

The Bulldogs could not get the offense going in game two against the Screaming Eagles, and the hosts pulled away for the victory. Sam Yancy led the way with ten kills, which tied with Berthold for the team lead, and 22 digs--three off her career high.

Early in the first set Truman held a 5-3 lead after an ace from Lindsay Woltering, and later led 7-5 before USI made their move. An 8-0 run gave USI a six point lead that Truman could not recover from. Later on the Bulldogs were within three at 18-15 but a 5-0 USI run gave them an eight point edge and they would take the set by that margin.

The second set seesawed back and forth, being tied at 2, 7, 9, 12, 14 and 15. From there, Truman made their move. Back to back kills from Berthold gave Truman a 17-16 lead, and Morgan Smith capped a 3-0 run with a kill. USI got back a point, but a 5-0 run by Truman all but gave them the set. Smith started the run with back to back kills and Rachel DeFries picked up two aces. Ellie Kaat ended the set with a kill to tie the match.

To begin the third set Truman had a 4-3 lead, but a 4-0 run by USI gave them a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the set.

Set number four looked poised to go the Bulldogs way, as Truman jumped out to a 14-10 lead after taking six of seven points, and DeFries picked up the final kill of the stretch. USI fought back and drew within one at 18-17, but a 3-0 run with kills from Ainsley Heise and Berthold looked like it would send the match to a fifth set. But USI took eight of the next ten points and slipped past the Bulldogs to finish it in four.
 

Up next for the Bulldogs will be their second tri-match in Kirksville this season, as they will host Rockhurst and McKendree next Saturday. First serve against McKendree is scheduled for 11:00 AM.