Georgia Southern University’s volleyball team won the Springhill Suites Invitational   at home this weekend where it defeated Oral Roberts University, North Dakota State University and High Point University.

Sophomore middle Crysten Curry totaled 16 kills and 22 blocks in the final match and was named MVP of the invitational.  Sophomore defensive specialist Alexandra Beecher and sophomore right side Katie Bange were named to the all-tournament team.  Beecher had 49 digs in three matches and Bange had 32 kills and 12 blocks.

The Eagles defeated Oral Roberts 3-1 (25-23, 14-25, 25-22, 25-19) to win the Springhill Invitational 3-0 and to put them at a 9-2 overall record.

The third set against Oral Roberts was tied 22-22 when junior outside hitter Jamie DeRatt got two straight kills and Bange finished the set with a kill to bring the match to 2-1 in the Eagles favor.

“We just came together and we were aggressive, it really changed the pace of the game,” DeRatt said.

“When our passing is on we’re, I guess you can say, unstoppable. No one can stop our offense,” senior outside hitter Nicole Jeschelnik s  aid.

The Eagles won their second match 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-23) against NDSU on Saturday.

GSU’s Bange led the team with a match-high of 15 kills, while Jeschelnik totaled 10 kills and 16 digs, also a match-high.  DeRatt collected 14 kills and 14 digs and sophomore setter Katalin Minnerly tallied 43 assists.

GSU hit .333 as a team and through three sets had only 14 errors.

“We executed our game plan very well,” GSU head cc c oach Dustin Wood said in a news release. “We were undisciplined at times, but overall, it was a good back-row effort. A lot of scrappiness from both sides made it a fun match to watch.”

The Eagles won their first match against High Point 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-20).

DeRatt led the Eagles with 13 kills and 10 digs, junior middle Kym Coley had nine kills for the Eagles and Bange had seven.

High Point’s junior outside hitter Kristin Heldt led the panthers with seven kills and junior outside hitter Chelsea Davis totaled six kills and 12 digs, but the Eagles held the Panthers to a .098 hitting percentage.

The Panthers had 17 hitting errors, 11 serving errors and 28 kills in 112 swings.

The Eagles are set to host the Bash in the Boro this upcoming weekend where they will play three matches against the Central Michigan University Chippewas, the Jackson State University Tigers and the Charleston Southern University Buccaneers.

“We love home matches, we love our fans, we love playing in our home gym, and the atmosphere is great,” DeRatt said.

The Eagles first match of the tournament will be against the Chippewas on Friday at 7 p.m. in Hanner Fieldhouse.