The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team resumes Great Lakes Valley Conference action this weekend with a pair of road matches at the University of Indianapolis and Bellarmine University, Friday and Saturday, respectively.
The Screaming Eagles (11-11, 3-4 GLVC) currently sit in a four-way tie for the ninth spot in the league standings, just one match out of seventh, following last weekend’s non-conference slate in the Midwest Region Crossover.
Information on USI Volleyball, including coverage of the upcoming GLVC matches, can be found at GoUSIEagles.com. Both matches will be live-streamed at glvcsn.com.
How We Got Here
USI came away from the 2019 Midwest Region Crossover with a 2-1 record last weekend, falling early to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in four sets before defeating Northwood University in three and Kentucky Wesleyan College in five.
Junior setter Casey Cepicky continues to climb the all-time leader board in assists wearing a USI uniform. After posting 75 assists in Indianapolis last weekend, the three-year starter eclipsed 2,000 for her career, leaving her eighth in program history. Cepicky is on pace to reach sixth in the record book before the 2019 season concludes.
Senior outside hitter Lindsey Stose led the attack for the Eagles over the three matches with 35 kills (2.92 kills/set). Stose sits second on the team in kills at 184 for the season.
Freshman outside hitter Leah Anderson continues to pace USI’s attack with 234 kills over 22 matches (3.21 kills/set). Anderson posted an 18-kill effort in the five-set victory over the Panthers to close the Crossover on Saturday.
The Eagles sit fourth in the GLVC in blocks per set so far this season, due to the efforts of senior middle hitter Elexis Coleman, senior middle blocker Amanda Jung and freshman right side hitter Katherine Koch. The trio have combined for 98 of USI’s 164 blocks this season.
Coleman also ranks among the top-five GLVC players in hitting percentage at .352 for the year. At least week’s Crossover, the senior middle hitter dropped a whopping .405 hitting clip on USI’s regional foes.
USI also ranks second in the conference in service aces, both in total (124), and on a per-set basis (1.63). Stose leads the Eagles with 23, followed by Anderson with 22 and freshman setter Kelsie Vanitvelt with 18 aces.
Scouting Report
USI at UIndy – Friday, 6 p.m.
The Greyhounds host the Eagles Friday with a 14-6 (5-2 GLVC) record in tow. UIndy’s league record sits third of 16 teams, tied with three other squads entering the weekend.
USI trails the Greyhounds in the all-time series, 30-18, including just a 2-8 mark in the last 10 meetings dating back to the start of the 2013 campaign. The Eagles last victory over UIndy came in a four-set road-victory in 2017.
USI at Bellarmine – Saturday, 2 p.m.
The Knights bring a 15-7 (5-2 GLVC) record to Knights Hall for a Friday match with McKendree University before hosting the Eagles Saturday afternoon. Bellarmine is included in the four-team pile-up that features tied at third place in the GLVC standings that features UIndy.
The Eagles hold a 31-19 all-time advantage over Bellarmine, but have dropped six-straight to the Knights since the start of the 2016 season. USI last defeated Bellarmine at Knights Hall in 2013.
