The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team will open its 2002 Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule Friday, September 20 as it travels to the University of Indianapolis for 7 p.m. match.

USI (8-4) is coming off a disappointing 1-2 showing at the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover in Allendale, Michigan last weekend and will be looking to get the conference schedule started off on a positive note.

Starting conference play on a positive note has not been a problem for USI the last 13 years. The Eagles have won four straight conference openers and 11 of their last 13, dating back to 1989.

USI will need to pick it up on the attack if things are to go well this weekend. The squad is hitting just .234 this season, .033 off of last season's school-record setting pace.

Defensively, however, the Eagles have improved. USI is averaging 15.93 digs per game, 1.13 better than last season.

Leading USI's defensive charge is senior outside hitters Shannon Wells (Merrillville, Indiana) and Kristina Kavanaugh (Montgomery, Indiana). Wells is averaging 3.41 digs per contest while Kavanaugh is second on the squad with 3.08 digs per game.

Wells also leads USI's offensive charge, which ranks fourth in the league in kills per game and second in the conference in service aces per contest. She is currently second in the GLVC with a team-high 4.12 kills and 1.15 service aces per game.

Sophomore middle blocker Leeanne Gross (Decatur, Indiana) has been USI's most consistent threat with a team-best .326 hitting percentage that ranks fifth in the GLVC. Gross is second on the team with 3.54 kills per game.

Junior setter Kim Boehmer (Cincinnati, Ohio) is fourth in the GLVC with a team-leading 11.46 assists per game. She will need to provide quality chances for the Eagle attackers if USI is to start off GLVC play on a successful note.

Indianapolis heads into this weeks action with a 10-3 record while Saint Joseph's College, USI's opponent on Saturday, enters the week's play with a 3-5 mark. USI's match with Indianapolis is slated for a 7 p.m. start while its match with SJC is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start in Rensselaer, Indiana.