Eagles host USI Invitational to open home schedule

USI will face UAPB, Jax State, and Bradley

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (2-5) will begin the home portion of the schedule this weekend when the Screaming Eagles host the USI Invitational. The round-robin style tournament will feature the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Jacksonville State University, Bradley University, and USI.
 
Game Coverage
Information about USI Volleyball, including live stats, video, and audio broadcasts, is available on USIScreamingEagles.com. 
 
Tournament Central
To access the USI Invitational home page with the tournament schedule, live stat links, and team information, follow this link.
 
Tickets
Admission to the USI Invitational is free for all attendees, courtesy of Tri-State Orthopaedics.
 
Screaming Eagles Headlines:
Eagles bounce back. Despite losing the first two matches of the Bellarmine Invitational, the Screaming Eagles earned a 3-1 victory over New Orleans. With the victory, USI has now doubled their win total from last season.
 
All-Tournament. Senior Abby Bednar was voted to the Bellarmine Invitational All-Tournament Team. Bednar tallied 41 kills, 27 digs, five aces, and seven blocks in a three-match span. Since moving to NCAA DI, Bednar has been named to three all-tournament teams (KSU Invitational & NIU Tri-Match, 2022).
 
First Freshman Appearance. Freshman Leah Coleman made her first career appearance against New Orleans and represented the freshmen class well, earning seven kills and 15 digs.
 
Consistent Starts. Junior Carly Sobieralski has totaled 20 or more assists in all seven matches. Senior Leah Anderson has racked up 10 or more kills in six of the last seven matches while sophomore Keira Moore has nabbed 10 or more digs in the same number of matches.
 
Double-Doubles. Three Eagles have secured double-doubles this season. Senior Abby Bednar and junior Carly Sobieralski each have earned four double-doubles while senior Leah Anderson has recorded three.

Nationally Acclaimed. Due to USI being in the DI reclassification period, the Eagles are not ranked in the NCAA statistical rankings. However, USI would be ranked 16th in total digs (394) and 28th in digs per set (16.42) in the nation.
 
OVC Leaderboard. USI ranks second in digs per set (16.42), fourth in opponent service aces per set (1.50) and opponent hitting percentage (.193) and fifth in opponent kills per set (12.71) and opponent assists per set (11.83). within the OVC.
 
OVC Leaders. Senior Leah Anderson ranks second in kills per set (3.83) and points per set (4.42) within the conference. Senior Abby Bednar stands third in points per set (4.08) and fourth in kills per set (3.38) while junior Carly Sobieralski is in fourth in assists per set (9.54). Junior Abby Weber has served up the sixth most aces per set (0.50) while sophomore Keira Moore is eighth in digs per set (3.88).
 
Team Leaders. Senior Leah Anderson leads the pack with 92 kills while junior Paris Downing has nabbed 18 blocks. Junior Carly Sobieralski has shown true potential in the passing game, putting up 229 assists. Senior Abby Bednar has produced a team-leading 10 service aces while sophomore Keira Moore added 93 digs to the stat line.
 
About Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Golden Lions enter the weekend 1-6 after sweeping UA-Monticello in their Tuesday home opener. On the year, the Lions have totaled 167 kills, 146 assists, and 24 aces along with 235 digs and 33 blocks. USI will be UAPB’s first opponent in the tournament.

Leading the Golden Lions. Sophomore Lyla Jones leads the team in three separate categories with 85 assists, 53 digs, and six aces. Junior Zykia Jones has earned a teamhigh 49 kills while freshman Ashanti Butler has nabbed 16 blocks.
 
About Jacksonville State. The former OVC member has gone 1-5 to start the season with the one win coming against McNeese, 3-2. The Gamecocks have tallied 217 kills, 202 assists, and 21 aces to pair with 259 digs and 40.5 blocks. JSU will face Bradley at 10 a.m. before taking on USI at 7 p.m.
 
Leading the Gamecocks. Junior Clarke Adams has recorded 59 digs while junior Ellie Garrett has tallied 155 assists. Junior Brooklyn Schiffli has put up five aces while junior Gracie Danziger has totaled 79 digs. Sophomore Morgan McClure has dominated the net, throwing down 22 blocks.
 
About Bradley. The Braves started off the season on a three-game winning streak and have a 4-2 record going into the tournament. As a team, Bradley has recorded 248 kills, 220 assists, and 52 aces to go along with 322 digs and 39.5 blocks. The Braves are 13th in NCAA DI in aces per set with 2.36.
 
Leading the Braves. Freshman Tendai Titley has kicked off her collegiate campaign successfully, earning a team-leading 48 kills. Redshirt Senior Loren Scott leads the passing game with 103 assists while freshman Corrie Brown soars from behind the line with 12 aces. Graduate Dru Kuck has nabbed 90 digs while sophomore Kendall Minta has recorded 22 blocks.