University of Southern Indiana Volleyball prepares to traverse its final three matches of the season, all of which take place on the road, prior to the GLVC tournament in East Peroria. The 25th-ranked Screaming Eagles kick off their season-ending road trip at Indianapolis on Saturday, April 3rd at 2 P.M. (central).
The Eagles recovered well with a thrashing of GLVC East-rival McKendree on March 26, 3-1, snapping a two-game losing streak. The back-to-back losses came at the hands of conference-foes Quincy and Drury on March 20, which marked the first time this season the Eagles lost back-to-back matches. Against McKendree, then-No. 25 USI dropped the first set, 26-28, before taking full control over the final three sets behind efficient attacking from GLVC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week and sophomore outside hitter Katherine Koch. With the win, USI swept McKendree in the season series and improved to 11-4 overall.
The Screaming Eagles look ahead to their final three matches, beginning with the Indianapolis Greyhounds this Saturday. Earlier this season, the Greyhounds visited Screaming Eagles Arena and were swept, 3-0, by the hosting-Eagles behind a strong performance from USI outside hitter Leah Anderson. Anderson led the USI offense in the first matchup against UIndy along with Casey Cepicky, who dished out 33 assists, as well as Taylor Litteken (8 kills), Abby Weber (7 kills) and Sidney Hegg (6 kills). Indianapolis plays host to USI with a two-game win streak and a 7-8 overall record on the season. The Hounds most recently swept McKendree (3/27/21) and Southwest Baptist (3/20/21).
NOTES:
The Eagles have made strides on the season, receiving a national ranking for the first time in program history and reaching as high as 12th (3/3/21 poll). USI Volleyball currently ranks 25th nationally.
USI’s sophomore outside hitter Leah Anderson earned the program’s first AVCA National Player of the Week award since 2011 with her performance against Rockhurst and Lindenwood where she posted 34 kills and a hitting percentage of .446, amassing 38.5 points (6.42 points per set). (Release)
Sophomore outside hitter Katherine Koch collected the first GLVC weekly award of her career following her performance in the trouncing of McKendree. Koch bombarded the Bearcats with 17 kills (career-high) and 19.0 total points (career-high) on .300 attack percentage. (Release)
Senior setter Casey Cepicky has forced her way higher in the USI record book in career assists, ranking fourth all-time with 2,768. She ranked sixth to begin the season, dishing out 505 over 15 matches so far this year.
In the GLVC, USI has multiple players ranking highly in statistical categories, including: Kills - Leah Anderson 4th (3.35 per set), Katherine Koch 10th (2.83 per set); Aces - Leah Anderson 1st (0.61 per set), Casey Cepicky 9th (0.32 per set); Hitting Percentage - Taylor Litteken 4th (.336); Assists - Casey Cepicky 5th (9.42 per set); and Points - Leah Anderson 3rd (4.20 per set).
USI Volleyball posted multiple impressive feats this season, recording five-striaght matches without losing a set, beating Illinois Springfield, UIndy, McKendree, Rockhurst, and Lindenwood. The 15-straight set wins were included in an eight-match win streak of victories as well with the Eagles beating Maryville, WIlliam Jewell, and Missouri S&T prior to their loss to UMSL.
