The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team was successful in its Great Lakes Valley Conference opener as it defeated the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 3-1, Friday night at the Mark Twain Building in St. Louis. The Screaming Eagles, winners of their last six matches in 2003 and their last six GLVC openers, improve to 11-2 overall (1-0 GLVC) while the Riverwomen fall to 3-4 overall (0-1 GLVC).

Sophomore middle hitter Laura Ellerbusch (Mt. Vernon, Indiana) recorded 15 kills and a .400 attacking percentage to go along with a match-high nine blocks, while junior middle blocker Leeanne Gross (Decatur, Indiana) tacked on 15 kills, a .303 attacking percentage, and a match-high 18 digs.

USI had five players record 10 or more kills, including 15 kills from senior outside hitter Ashley Riordan (Mt. Vernon, Indiana), 11 kills from freshman outside hitter Emily Ryan (Batesville, Indiana), and 10 kills from junior middle hitter Natalie Atzinger (Louisville, Kentucky). Atzinger also recorded 17 digs while Riordan and freshman outside hitter Amanda Probst (Wheeler, Illinois) chipped in 16 and 11 digs, respectively.

Senior setter Kim Boehmer (Cincinnati, Ohio) finished with a match-high 52 assists and recorded five digs and five blocks in the process.

The Eagles will finish their weekend Saturday with a trip to rival Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The Cougars enter Saturday's match with a 12-2 overall record and a 1-0 mark in the GLVC.