EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball is projected to finish sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll voted by the conference’s head coaches’ and sport communicators.
The conference returns all 11 OVC schools from the 2023 season. The schedule features an 18-game conference slate nine home, nine away playing nine OVC squads twice. The regular season champion hosts the OVC tournament to culminate the seasons efforts in an eight-team single elimination tournament.
Following a second-place finish in 2023, Southeast Missouri State University was picked to finish first in the preseason poll. The Redhawks received 167 total votes and six first-place votes. The 2023 regular season and tournament champions, Eastern Illinois University were selected right behind SEMO with 166 total votes and five first-place votes. Morehead State University also received five first-place votes coming in at third with 163 total votes. Morehead State was eliminated by the Eagles last year in the OVC tournament quarterfinals.
Tennessee Tech University returns multiple key returners including two on the All-OVC Preseason team. The Golden Eagles earned 153 total votes along with four first-place votes to place fourth. Lindenwood University also earned two All-OVC Preseason team members. The Lions are projected just above USI at fifth with 145 total votes and one first-place vote.
After a vastly improved 2023 conference season making it to the conference semifinals, the Screaming Eagles earned 97 total votes at sixth-place. USI returns four of the six starters from 2023, looking to rely on key returners to step up, along with the addition of two freshman and two key transfers. Rounding out the final five is University of Tennessee at Martin (84), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (83, one first-place vote), Western Illinois University (74), University of Arkansas at Little Rock (51), and Tennessee State University (29).
As part of the OVC’s preseason announcement, junior middle hitter Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) represented USI on the 2024 OVC Volleyball Preseason Players to Watch List. Anderson looks to continue to improve, stepping into a bigger role in 2024. The middle hitter nearly doubled her production in 2023 collecting 244 kills, 63 blocks, along with leading the team in hitting percentage at .259.
USI kicks off the season with three straight road invitationals, matching up with three different schools at each invite. The Eagles open the season traveling to Bradley University (Aug. 30-31), University of Florida (Sep. 6-8), and Indiana University (Sep. 13-14). The squad returns to town to play at University of Evansville (Sep. 17), before their home opening weekend in a re-match with UE (Sep. 20), along with a battle against Indiana University Indianapolis (Sep. 21). USI starts conference play hosting SEMO on back-to-back days (Sep. 27-28).
2024 OVC Soccer Predicted Order of Finish
(as voted on by the league’s head coaches and communication directors)
1. Southeast Missouri (6) – 167
2. Eastern Illinois (5) – 164
3. Morehead State (5) – 163
4. Tennessee Tech (4) – 153
5. Lindenwood (1) – 145
6. Southern Indiana – 97
7. UT Martin – 84
8. SIUE – (1) 83
9. Western Illinois – 74
10. Little Rock – 51
11. Tennessee State – 27
2024 OVC Players to Watch
Kaitlyn Flynn, Eastern Illinois
Allie Otten, Lindenwood
Bella Cherry, Little Rock
Peighton Isley, Morehead State
Sydney Hummert, SIUE
Abby Johnson, Southeast Missouri
Bianca Anderson, Southern Indiana
Sagaia Reilly, Tennessee State
Mallory Jenkins, Tennessee Tech
Dylan Mott, UT Martin
Maggie Craker, Western Illinois
