USI Volleyball Tabbed For 5th-Place Finish In GLVC East

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USI Volleyball Tabbed For 5th-Place Finish In GLVC East

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Volleyball has been predicted to finish fifth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division in an announcement by the league office Tuesday.

GLVC coaches selected Lewis University and Rockhurst University as their choices to win the GLVC East and West Divisions, respectively, in their annual preseason poll.

USI received 70 points in the poll, two-behind the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, which was picked to finish fourth in the East Division. Lewis, the GLVC Tournament champion a year ago, received 12 first-place votes and 115 points to top the East Division selections, while McKendree University, the 2015 GLVC East Division champion, was second with 102 points and two first-place votes.

The University of Indianapolis was picked to finish third in the East Division with 101 points and two first-place votes, while the University of Illinois Springfield (42 points), Bellarmine University (38 points) and Saint Joseph’s College (28 points) rounded out the East Division picks in sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

Rockhurst, the 2015 NCAA II Midwest Region champion, was the unanimous pick to win the West Division with 120 points and 15 first-place votes, while Missouri University of Science & Technology (97 points) and Truman State University (90 points/one first-place vote) were picked to finish second and third, respectively.

Drury University (80 points) and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (64 points) were picked to finish fourth and fifth, respectively, while Quincy University (59 points), William Jewell College (31 points) and Maryville University (27 points) rounded out the West Division predictions.

USI, under the direction of 12th-year Head Coach Leah Mercer ’02, returns five starters from a squad that went 21-11 overall and 10-8 in GLVC play a year ago. The Eagles finished fourth in the East Division last season and advanced to the GLVC Tournament for the 17th consecutive season.

The Eagles, who are looking for their fourth NCAA II Tournament appearance since 2010 and their first since 2013, are aided by the return of junior libero Shannon Farrell(Munster, Indiana) and junior outside hitter Shelbi Morris (Brazil, Indiana). Farrell racked up 575 digs a year ago, coming within 15 digs of Kayla Heldman’s single-season mark of 590, set in 2013; while Morris was third on the team with 2.84 kills per set a year ago.

USI begins the season September 2-3 when it competes in the Flagler Invitational in St. Augustine, Florida. The Eagles open GLVC play September 16 against William Jewell.

2016 Volleyball East Division Preseason Poll

  1. Lewis                       115 (12)
  2. McKendree              102 (2)
  3. Indianapolis             101 (2)
  4. UW-Parkside             72
  5. Southern Indiana     70
  6. Illinois Springfield      42
  7. Bellarmine                 38
  8. Saint Joseph’s           28

2016 Volleyball West Division Preseason Poll

  1. Rockhurst                 120 (15)
  2. Missouri S&T             97
  3. Truman State             90 (1)
  4. Drury                          80
  5. Missouri St. Louis       64
  6. Quincy                        59
  7. William Jewell            31
  8. Maryville                     27

 

 

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