Box Score
The UW-Parkside volleyball team took the second set to even the match up at one but ended up falling in four to first place Southern Indiana (19-25, 25-20, 15-25, 19-25). Parkside drops to 9-6 in league play and will have to wait another day to clinch the program's first GLVC Tournament berth since 2003.
With Quincy's loss on Friday night the Rangers are now officially a win away from securing a postseason spot. It appeared they had a chance to do it after 25-20 victory in the second set, but the red-hot Screaming Eagles took over from there and moved to 13-2 on the season.
Addie Kramer and
Cassy Marx led Parkside with 12 kills a piece.
Bridget Nickel had nine kills to go with a match-high 13 digs.
Jessi Mainczyk had 11 digs as well. The Rangers played without
Caroline Langer who was lost for the season in practice on Thursday with a knee injury.
Parkside got off to a strong start offensively with hitting percentages of .314 and .296 in the first two sets. Things cool from there though as USI was able to pull away in sets three and four.
The Rangers were never able to get closer than five in the opening set after USI jumped out to a 10-5 lead. The second set was much different however has the Rangers scored ten out of 13 points to overcome a five point deficit and take a 13-11 lead.
Cayla Flood, who moved into second on the all-time aces list and tied her own school record with 54 in a season, had two straight to finish the run and put the Rangers out in front.
Things went back-and-forth until Parkside made one final push to even the match. Kramer killed three of the Rangers final five points to claim the 25-20 and knot things up.
Unfortunately from there Parkside couldn't string enough big runs together and went down in defeat. After USI controlled the third set the Rangers responded to keep things tight for much of the fourth. But with The score at 14-14, USI rattled off 11 of the last 16 points to remain in a first place tie with Indianapolis.
UWP will finish up its road schedule on Saturday with a visit to Kentucky Wesleyan. That match will start a 3:00 with the Rangers look to lock up their spot in the postseason field.
