EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Edinboro volleyball team opened the 2018 season after a split in pair of matches on the first day of the USI DoubleTree Invitational. The Fighting Scots defeated Ohio Dominican in the morning in four games by scores 22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-18 before falling to Minnesota State – Mankato, 3-0, with set scores 30-28, 25-23, 25-19. The tournament is hosted by Southern Indiana.

For the day, Edinboro was led by sophomore Cierah Jackson with 25 kills. Freshman Sally Sterkel totaled 20 kills on a .420 hitting percentage along with eight blocks in her collegiate debut.

EDINBORO 3, OHIO DOMINICAN 1
Edinboro won the final three sets to take a 3-1 win from Ohio Dominican to open the 2018 season. Sterkel led the Fighting Scots against the Panthers with 13 kills, 3.5 blocks, three aces while hitting .571 in her first collegiate match. Jackson was right behind Sterkel with 14 kills and two digs. Edinboro used a two-setter rotation with freshman Alicia Eldredge tallying 22 and junior Jordan Van Oss adding 15. Sophomore Molly Brier and senior Megan Screptock both reached double digit digs with 18 and 11, respectively. As a, the Fighting Scots tallied 12 aces against Ohio Dominican.

MINNESOTA STATE – MANKATO 3, EDINBORO 3
The Fighting Scots finished day one at the USI DoubleTree Invitational falling to Minnesota State – Mankato, 3-0. The Mavericks took set one in extra points 30-28 before taking set two and three by scores of 25-23 and 25-19. Jackson led the Fighting Scots with 11 kills while fellow sophomore Hannah Brentar added 22 assists. Sterkel added seven kills and three blocks.  

Edinboro (1-1) returns to the court tomorrow, August 25, with matches against Kentucky State at 12:30 p.m. and conclude the tournament with a contest against host Southern Indiana at 8:00 p.m.