The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team wrapped up its 2002 regular season schedule with a 3-1 victory over the University of Missouri-St. Louis Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center in Evansville, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles improve to 22-7 overall and 11-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference while the Riverwomen fall to 13-14 overall and 4-10 in the GLVC.

The win gives the Eagles the GLVC Green Division championship for the second time in three seasons. Thanks to Northern Kentucky University's loss at the University of Indianapolis Saturday afternoon, the Eagles will enter the GLVC Tournament as the number two seed. Tournament play will begin Thursday, November 14, in Romeoville, Illinois.

USI dominated the first game with 16 kills and a .318 attacking percentage. Senior outside hitter Shannon Wells (Merrillville, Indiana) and sophomore middle blocker Leeanne Gross (Decatur, Indiana) each recorded five kills in the first game to lead USI to a 30-15 victory and a 1-0 lead in the match.

Once again, the Eagles recorded 16 kills and pushed points in the second game. Wells led the Eagles in the game with four kills as USI bested UMSL 30-21 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

After letting a 2-0 lead slip in Friday night's match with SIU Edwardsville, the Eagles did not feel good about Saturday's game-three outcome. USML picked up its hitting percentage and held the Eagles to a .131 attacking percentage in the third game as it won 31-29 and brought the match to 2-1.

USI was down 29-23 at one point in the third game. However, the Eagles reeled off six straight points before the Riverwomen could close out the victory.

Up 2-1, the Eagles did not want to see the Riverwomen push the match to a decisive game five. USI entered the match with a 0-3 record in game fives this season, so when senior outside hitter Kristina Kavanaugh's (Montgomery, Indiana) serve brought on seven consecutive points to widen USI's lead to 22-14 in the fourth game, the Eagles had to have let out a sigh of relief.

The Eagles kept on pushing and held the Riverwomen's attack to 0.65 in the fourth game. USI's defensive efforts in the fourth game led them to a 30-20 victory and a 3-1 victory in the match.

Shannon Wells and Leeanne Gross led the Eagles with a match-high 16 kills. Kavanaugh and senior right side hitter Greta Grinstead (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) contributed 10 and 13 kills, respectively, while junior setter Kim Boehmer (Cincinnati, Ohio) posted a match-high 52 assists to go along with 15 digs.

Five players finished in double-figures in the digs category, with Wells posting a team-high 21. Wells also became USI's all-time leader in career digs with her effort. Gross finished with 18 digs while Kavanaugh finished with 12 digs and junior outside hitter Ashley Riordan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) compiled 11 digs.

USI will play the seventh seed, Quincy University, in the GLVC Tournament Thursday. Match-time is to be announced at a later date.