Box Score

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside volleyball team fell in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday afternoon as the University of Southern Indiana captured the final three sets to score the come-from-behind win, 3-2 (25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 22-25, 12-15). The loss drops the Rangers to 2-5 and 1-1 in the GLVC while USI goes to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the conference. USI earned an identical comeback win the night before at nationally-ranked, Lewis University.
 
“Definitely a heartbreaking loss but a great match,” said head coach Christine Paciero. “We played harder today than we've played all year and I look forward to that continuing.”
 
Bridget Nickel led the Rangers with a double-double of 18 kills and 19 digs. Cassy Marx had 15 kills and Addie Kramer had 14 while Caroline Langer recorded 11 kills and 15 digs. Stacie Bower had another big day defensively registering a match-high 31 digs.
 
“Stacie Bower, again, just played great defense,” said Paciero. “And did it against a really great team. Southern Indiana has an outstanding team."
 
Danielle LaGrange was USI's top hitter with 17 kills while Emily Meyer finished with 10. Libero, Kayla Heldman finished with 24 digs.
 
Things were extremely tight throughout as both teams answered one another's runs. Parkside grabbed the first set late scoring four of the game's final five points. Courtney Stack made it 23-21 on a quick attack on the second hit. Kramer had a kill to make it 24-22 and an attack error by USI clinched a 1-0 lead for the Rangers.
 
USI grabbed an early three-point lead in game two before Parkside went on an 8-2 run to get back in front. Two straight kills by Nickel, followed by two Bower aces, made it 18-16. USI re-took the lead at 22-21 before the Rangers scored the set's final four points culminating with a Cayla Flood ace.
 
Parkside looked to have control of the match leading 20-17 in set three before the Screaming Eagles stormed back to steal it by scoring eight of the final ten points. A block by LaGrange up front completed the comeback.
 
USI turned the same feat in the fourth set scoring the final five points for a 25-22 win. Jorae Bradbury finished off the set with a kill and forced the deciding set.
 
In the fifth, the teams traded points up to 9-9 with neither squad holding more than a one point lead. From there, USI seized control scoring four straight points. Parkside was able to trim the deficit to 14-12 but an Emily Diedrich kill after a furious rally ended the match for the Eagles.
 
The Rangers will now take a few days off before finishing their four-game home stand on Tuesday night against Lewis. Game time at the DeSimone Gymnasium is set for 7:00 p.m.