COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Winthrop University volleyball team was edged by Southern Indiana 3-2 on Sunday at Covelli Center. Paige Bennett powered through with a team-high 17 kills, while Lexi Thatcher delivered 38 assists and Addison Torain tallied 17 digs.
Winthrop achieved a season-high total of 13.5 blocks in the game.
Top Performers
Kills – Bennett (17), Reece Rhoads (12), KeAra Bowen (9)
Aces – Bennett (3), Torain (1), Thatcher (1), Teagan Sychterz (1)
Blocks – Sychterz (6), Giselle Little (6), Bowen (5)
Assists – Thatcher (38), Torain (8)
Digs – Torain (17), Bennett (14), Thatcher (11)
Set 1
- Southern Indiana moved in front early with a five-point stretch that turned a 3-2 Eagles lead into a 7-3 deficit.
- The Eagles clawed back behind kills from Little, Rhoads, Bowen, and Bennett to stay within 15-14.
- Southern Indiana pushed the margin to 18-14 before the Eagles took five straight points for a 19-18 lead.
- Southern Indiana answered to go back ahead and scored the final five points to take the opening set 25-20.
Set 2
- The Eagles moved ahead 10-6 in the second set with multiple kills from Bennett and a service ace from Sychterz.
- Southern Indiana scored four straight points to tie the set at 10-10, but the Eagles responded to move ahead 17-11.
- Torain served the Eagles through the final four points to close the set 25-17.
Set 3
- The third set traded points early, with the Eagles moving ahead 6-4 before Southern Indiana went in front 7-6.
- Southern Indiana built a 20-17 lead, but the Eagles rallied to tie it at 23-23.
- Sychterz delivered consecutive kills for a 25-24 Eagles lead.
- A Southern Indiana service error and a block by Sychterz and Bowen closed the Eagles’ 27-25 set win.
Set 4
- Southern Indiana moved from a 13-11 edge to a 19-11 lead with six straight points.
- The Eagles stopped the run with a Bennett kill, but Southern Indiana pushed back to 21-13.
- A service error from Southern Indiana started a six-point Eagles push, cutting the score to 21-19.
- Southern Indiana traded late points to ultimately seal the set 25-21.
Set 5
- The fifth set stayed level early before the Eagles moved ahead 8-6.
- Southern Indiana answered with five points to go in front 11-8.
- The Eagles cut the deficit to 14-12 before Southern Indiana took the final point on a service error to win the set 15-12.
NEXT UP
The Eagles return home to host UNC Wilmington on Friday at 5 p.m. at Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, S.C.
Story courtesy of Winthrop Athletics.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
