NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (13-10, 4-1 G-MAC) dropped a non-conference matchup with the University of Southern Indiana (16-6, 6-5 Great Lakes Valley Conference) Tuesday night at the Trojan Fieldhouse, falling 18-25, 20-25, 22-25. This was the first ever meeting between the Trojans and the Eagles. "That's a very good team from a good conference," said Trojan head coach Jayme Crowley. "They were the better team tonight, but we matched up pretty well with them and played them close."

Trevecca's next match is Friday night, when they play at Cedarville (14-11, 6-1 G-MAC) in the first of five straight conference games on the road. Game time in the Callan Athletic Center is 6pm. The Trojans beat the Yellow Jackets in five sets back on October 4th in the Trojan Fieldhouse.

Katelyn Atkinson (SO/Hermitage, Tenn.) and Zakia Jackson (JR/Hermitage, Tenn.) led Trevecca against the Eagles with eight kills apiece, while Cara Trunnell (SR/Jasper, Ala.) added six and Delaney Hearne (JR/San Marcos, Tex.) and Stephanie Bouchard (FR/Chattanooga, Tenn.) contributed five apiece. Loren Bennett (JR/Ooltewah, Tenn.) notched 27 assists and added 12 digs and two kills. The Eagles, meanwhile, had four players in double figures in kills, led by junior Abbey Winter with 13.

USI outhit TNU 47-34, and the Eagles were more efficient offensively as well, posting a .291 hitting percentage compared to just .147 for the Trojans. Southern Indiana posted 44 assists to just 32 for Trevecca, and the Eagles were better at the net, notching 17 blocks to just eight for the Trojans.

"We need to improve our blocking," added Crowley. "They were better than us at the net. We just didn't have everybody playing their 'A' game tonight."

With a big road trip looming, and all five matches against conference opponents, the Trojans will need a balanced, consistent effort to remain in contention for the conference regular season title.

"We have a long road trip ahead of us, and we're going to have to travel tough," said Crowley. "We've got to get everybody to play well on the same night, and it starts Friday at Cedarville. It's going to take our 'A' game from everyone to knock them off."