University of Southern Indiana Volleyball Coach Randi Raff announced that 6-foot-1 middle blocker Lauren O’Neill (Covington, Indiana) is transferring from NCAA Division I University of Tennessee at Martin to join the Screaming Eagles for the 2021 season.
O’Neil, who will have four years of eligibility to compete for USI, played in 34 sets and 12 matches as a freshman in 2020-21, cracking the starting lineup seven times during the COVID-19 altered season. She finished the year with 34 kills, a .126 attacking percentage and 16 blocks.
Prior to UTM, O’Neill graduated from Covington Community High School where she racked up 730 kills, a .367 attacking percentage and 219 blocks in 388 set during her varsity career. She had 321 kills (3.5 per set) to go along with 88 blocks (1.0 per set) and 21 service aces as a senior in 2019.
For her efforts, O’Neill was named first-team IHSAA Class A All-State, All-Area and All-District as a senior.
During her junior year in 2018, O’Neill had 206 kills, a .367 attacking percentage and 50 blocks, helping CCHS to 27 wins.
“We are excited to welcome Lauren to our squad this fall and back to her home state of Indiana,” Raff said. “Lauren offers us depth and size at the middle position. She is a well-rounded student-athlete who will be an excellent representative of USI Volleyball on and off the court.”
O’Neill joins a list of newcomers that includes 5-foot-9 defensive specialist Anna Ballengee (Montgomery, Indiana), 5-foot-9 middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana), 6-foot right side/outside hitter Evie Duncan (Evansville, Indiana), and 5-foot-10 setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana).
USI returns nine players and all seven starters from a team that won the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament title last season. USI was 17-4 overall, 14-4 in GLVC play, and finished the year ranked No. 15 in the final AVCA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.
The 2020-21 season marked the first time in program history that USI earned a spot in the AVCA Top 25 as the Eagles were ranked as high as No. 12 midway through the season. The Eagles also earned their first-ever win over a nationally No. 1-ranked team when they upset top-ranked Lewis University on the road to finish the regular season.
USI begins the 2021 regular-season begins September 3-4 when the Eagles travel to Pensacola, Florida, to take part in the University of West Florida Invitational. The Eagles host the USI Invitational September 10-11 at Screaming Eagles Arena to open their regular-season home schedule.
