EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Volleyball opens its 2021 Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule Thursday at 7 p.m. when it hosts Maryville University at Screaming Eagles Arena. The Screaming Eagles also visit Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla, Missouri, Saturday at 3 p.m. in a rematch of last season’s GLVC Tournament title match.

If you go
Thursday: Masks are required to be worn inside Screaming Eagles Arena and fans are asked to observe social distancing guidelines.
Saturday: Missouri S&T encourages masking of vaccinated fans if social distancing cannot be observed, while unvaccinated fans are required to use a mask inside the facility.

Game Coverage
Both matches will be aired on the GLVC Sports Network, while live stats are available at GoUSIEagles.com.

About USI
USI (6-2) has won six consecutive matches entering this week’s contests. The Eagles won their USI Invitational last weekend after posting three-set sweeps of the University of Alabama-Huntsville, Davis & Elkins College and Wayne State University; as well as a four-set, non-conference win over the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

About Maryville
The Saints (4-3) went 3-1 last weekend at the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational, earning wins over West Virginia State University, Lee University and Kentucky Wesleyan College. Their lone loss on the weekend was a three-set loss to Missouri Western State University.

Junior outside hitter Rachel Hurt averages 2.76 kills and 3.28 points per set to lead Maryville.

The Eagles are 10-2 all-time against the Saints and have won three straight in the series, including a four-set win in St. Louis last season.

About Missouri S&T
The Miners (6-2) also went 3-1 last week, posting wins over Wheeling University, Bemidji State University and the University of Indianapolis before falling to No. 14 Winona State University.

Senior right side hitter Payton Gannaway averages 4.97 points and 4.03 kills per set to lead the Miners, who fell to the Eagles in five sets in the GLVC Tournament title match last season.

The Eagles are 12-5 all-time versus Missouri S&T and have won the last three meetings, including last year’s regular-season contest in Rolla, Missouri, as well as the GLVC Tournament title match in East Peoria, Illinois.

USI Volleyball Notes
• Anderson, Cepicky and Koch named All-Tournament. Sophomore outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois), sophomore right side hitter Katherine Koch (Belleville, Illinois) and senior setter Casey Cepicky (St. Louis, Missouri) were named to the USI Invitational All-Tournament team in a vote by the head coaches of the five participating teams.

• Hegg collects GLVC honor. Senior middle blocker Sidney Hegg (Menasha, Wisconsin) was named the Baden GLVC Offensive Player of the Week following her efforts last weekend. Hegg averaged 2.15 kills and 1.15 blocks per set, while hitting .400 on the weekend.

• Koch nets triple-double. Koch recorded what is believed to be USI Volleyball’s first triple-double in 19 years when she racked up 15 kills, 17 digs and 11 assists in USI’s four-set win over Missouri-St. Louis. USI’s last triple-double was a 13-kill, 11-dig and 10-ace effort by USI and GLVC Hall of Famer Shannon Wells in a three-set win over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on October 4, 2002.

• Tough to scout. USI Volleyball has been making it difficult for opposing coaches to scout it as six different players are averaging at least 2.00 kills per set for the Eagles in 2021. Anderson leads USI with 2.93 kills per set, while junior middle hitter Taylor Litteken (Foristell, Missouri) and Hegg are third and fourth in the conference, respectively, with hitting percentages of .420 and .397.

• Cepicky closing in on historic mark. Cepicky needs just 34 digs to become the 12th player in program history to reach the 1,000-dig plateau and the first player in program history to reach 1,000 digs and 3,000 assists.

• Season Leaders. While Anderson is averaging a team-high 2.93 kills per set and Litteken a team-best .420 attacking percentage, the Eagles are getting a team-leading 9.00 assists from Cepicky, 0.52 aces from Anderson, 0.90 blocks from Hegg and 3.90 digs from senior libero Callie Gubera (Thorntown, Indiana).

• Last week’s leaders. Anderson averaged 3.00 kills and 0.62 aces per set, while freshman outside hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) averaged 2.67 kills and a team-best .583 attacking percentage in six sets. Litteken and Hegg each hit .400 on the weekend, while Hegg averaged 1.15 blocks per frame. Cepicky averaged 10.00 assists, while Gubera led USI with 3.92 digs per set.

• Eagles in the polls. USI continues to receive votes outside the AVCA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, while Lewis University (No. 15) and Rockhurst University (No. 22) are the only other GLVC teams receiving recognition in the AVCA Top 25.