University of Southern Indiana Volleyball travels to Canton, Ohio, on Friday for the Hall of Fame City Challenge, hosted by Malone University. The weekend features USI, Malone, Seton Hill University (PA), Daemen College (NY), and Notre Dame College (OH) in a single round-robin tournament.
The Screaming Eagles enter the weekend 3-1 so far in 2018, defeating Ohio Dominican University and Kentucky State University in straight sets Friday; then splitting Saturday, losing to Minnesota State University-Mankato before defeating Edinboro University.
Attack from Above
- USI takes three attackers with over 30 kills to Canton this weekend.
- Junior Elexis Coleman (Joliet, Illinois) leads the Eagles with 39 kills in just 12 sets for a 3.25 kills/set average. Coleman has also blocked seven attacks and picked up two service aces through four games.
- Freshman middle hitter Taylor Litteken (Foristell, Missouri) chases Coleman up the chart with 35 kills, five blocks and three service aces.
- Sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Yochum (Columbia, Illinois) has added 31 kills and four blocks of her own.
- Coleman and Litteken boast attacking percentages over the .400 mark. Litteken posted a .565 mark against Edinboro on Saturday.
Clear for Takeoff
- Sophomore setter Casey Cepicky (St. Louis, Missouri) dished out 131 assists last weekend, boasting a 10.08 assists/set average.
- Cepicky surpassed 1,000 assists for her career on Saturday, on her second assist of the Edinboro match.
Limper’s Row
- Senior libero Haley Limper (Springfield, Illinois) leads the Eagles in digs (40) and service aces (7).
- Junior Mikaila Humphrey (Floyd Knobs, Indiana) adds a 2.86 digs/set average for 20 digs in just seven sets.
- Second and third for the Eagles in digs, respectively, are Cepicky (30) and Coleman (21). Cepicky has also added three blocks to her stat sheet through four matches.
Scouting the Hall of Fame City Challenge
Malone; Friday, 1:30 p.m.
- The Pioneers are 2-2 following their visit to the Ashland Invitational last weekend. Malone notably defeated Bellarmine University in straight sets and fell short to the host Ashland University (OH) in four sets.
- Malone is led by a two-time All-Great Midwest Athletic Conference second-teamer, senior Mallory Adams. Adams is fresh off a GMAC East Player of the Week performance, posting 46 kills, 15 blocks and 19 digs in four matches last weekend.
- The GMAC preseason coaches’ poll featured Malone third in the East division after an 18-13 record in 2017.
Daemen; Friday, 6 p.m.
- The Wildcats bring a 1-2 record to the Hall of Fame City Challenge. both losses came at the hands of 2017 NCAA tournament qualifiers, including No. 16 Gannon University (PA).
- Junior outside hitter Meghan Ballou led the Wildcats in kills in 2017 (303), currently sits third on the team with 24. Ballou was selected to the All-East Coast Conference second-team last season.
- Daemen’s offense is currently led by sophomore middle blocker Tirzah Peters and freshman setter Isa McCaffrey. Peters has a team-high 26 kills while McCaffrey leads the Wildcats with 93 assists.
- The Wildcats were tabbed fifth in the ECC preseason coaches’ poll. Daemen posted an 11-16 record (7-7, ECC) in 2017.
Seton Hill; Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
- The Griffins are 2-2 following a trip to St. Petersberg, Fla. to a tournament hosted by Eckerd College. Seton Hill’s losses came against No. 22 Augustana University (SD) and the University of Missouri-St. Louis, both in straight sets.
- Seton Hill relies on 2017 All-American honorable mention Leah Bisignani and 2017 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference second-teamer Viktoria Farian for its offense. Farian leads the Griffins in kills this season (39) while Bisignani brings 28 kills, five service aces and four blocks.
- The PSAC preseason coaches’ poll had Seton Hill as the Southwest division champion for 2018. The PSAC is home to five 2017 NCAA tournament qualifiers; Seton Hill included after a 22-8 (14-4 PSAC) record.
Notre Dame; Saturday, 5 p.m.
- The Falcons bring a 1-2 record to Canton and were slotted ninth in the Mountain East Conference preseason coaches’ poll for 2018. The MEC is home to 2017 NCAA tournament one-seed Wheeling Jesuit (WV).
- Notre Dame is tasked with replacing one of NCAA Division II’s best attackers from 2017: Mellisa Maczuzak. The Falcons, however, return their leading setter, Paige Staudacher, and leading defensive specialist, Alexandra Kaeberlein, for 2018. Staudacher has 103 assists, Kaeberlein has 73 digs, through three matches.
- So far in 2018, the Falcons’ attack has been led by Mary Kate McHugh, with 43 kills. McHugh has five blocks and 32 digs this season, first and second on the team respectively.
