EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team wraps up its 2009 home schedule this weekend when it hosts the University of Missouri-St. Louis Friday at 7 p.m. and Missouri University of Science and Technology Saturday at 3 p.m.
USI will honor its five seniors—outside hitter Courtney Bealor, middle blocker Ashley Henricks, right side hitters Kathi Hindman and Jaclyn Johnson, and setter Melanie Pund—prior to Saturday's match with the Miners as part of its Senior Day festivities.
Following a thrilling five-set road victory over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside last Saturday, the Screaming Eagles find themselves in the GLVC Tournament hunt.
The Eagles (13-13, 5-5 GLVC), who have made 10 straight GLVC Tournament appearances, are currently eighth in the GLVC standings and are holding the final spot in the league tournament. USI is a game ahead of Wisconsin-Parkside and Bellarmine University and holds head-to-head tie-breakers over both squads, while Missouri S&T also is only a game back of USI.
USI could rise in the league standings with a strong finish in the final two weekends of the regular season, as Drury University and Saint Joseph's College are only a game ahead of the Eagles. The Eagles hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over Drury, but Saint Joseph's holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over USI.
For the Eagles to have a strong finish, they need sophomore middle blocker Danielle LaGrange to continue her strong play. LaGrange is averaging 3.33 kills per set and is attacking at a .382 pace throughout the last eight GLVC matches. She averaged 3.27 kills and hit .403 last week as the Eagles went 2-1 on the road.
Junior outside hitter Brittani Oliver continues to lead the Eagles with 2.86 kills per set, while Henricks has posed a strong net presence with her team-high 0.91 blocks per frame.
Missouri-St. Louis enters this weekend's play with an 18-9 overall record and an 8-2 mark in GLVC play, while Missouri S&T is 9-23 overall and 4-6 in the GLVC. The Miners visit Kentucky Wesleyan Friday before traveling to Evansville.
Both of USI's matches this weekend will be aired live via the web on B2 Networks. USI concludes the regular season with matches at the University of Illinois-Springfield (November 7) and Quincy University (November 8).
