EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team opens the 2006 season Friday when it competes in the University of West Florida Invitational in Pensacola, Florida.
USI starts the weekend with Edinboro University at 12:15 p.m. before facing host West Florida at 7 p.m. The Screaming Eagles play Northwood University (9 a.m.) and the University of South Dakota (3:45 p.m.) on Saturday to close their opening weekend.
Under the direction of second-year Head Coach Leah Mercer, the Eagles are coming off a year in which they posted a 19-13 record and an 11-5 mark in the GLVC. USI, which returns five starters and its libero, is picked to finish fifth in the league in 2006.
Top returning players to watch are senior outside hitters
Emily Ryan (Batesville, Indiana) and
Chelse Doubler (Griffin, Indiana) as well as senior libero
Amanda Probst (Wheeler, Illinois) and junior setter
Stephanie Wilson (Terre Haute, Indiana).
Ryan and Wilson were first-team All-GLVC performers a year ago, while Doubler earned honorable mention All-GLVC honors in 2005. Probst, who is closing in on USI's all-time record for career digs, was a second-team All-GLVC libero in 2004.
USI opens its home schedule September 8 when it opens GLVC play against defending GLVC regular-season champion Rockhurst University.
