Winthrop University Athletics

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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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NEXT UP  

The Eagles return home to host UNC Wilmington on Friday at 5 p.m. at Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, S.C.