Match Notes
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team begins its quest for a conference title when it opens the Great Lakes Valley Conference Friday at noon in Romeoville, Illinois, against the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
USI enters this weekend's tournament, which is hosted by top-seeded Lewis University as the sixth seed, while the Tritons enter as the third seed. All matches will be aired live via the web at B2 Networks.
The Screaming Eagles (17-13, 9-5 GLVC) enter the league's post-season tournament on a roll, having won its last five matches. Included in the five-match winning streak was a four-set victory over Missouri-St. Louis.
Junior outside hitter Brittani Oliver had 14 kills and a .407 attacking percentage in USI's win over Missouri-St. Louis. Sophomore middle blocker Danielle LaGrange added 11 kills and a .556 attacking clip as the Eagles rallied from a one-set deficit.
For the season, LaGrange is second on the team with 2.68 kills and 0.80 blocks per set. She leads the Eagles with a .302 attacking percentage, including a blistering .363 attacking clip against GLVC competition.
Oliver leads USI with 2.96 kills per game, while senior setter Melanie Pund is averaging a team-best 9.06 assists per frame. Senior middle blocker Ashley Henricks, USI's all-time leader in block assists, is averaging a team-high 0.93 blocks per set, while sophomore libero Krista Coccaro is averaging a team-high 3.21 digs per game.
UMSL (21-10, 11-3 GLVC) enters this weekend's tournament having won three straight matches and five of its last six. Sophomore middle hitter Weslie Gaff leads is third on the team with 2.43 kills per set and leads the Tritons in attacking percentage (.340) and blocks per game (1.09).
Other first round match-ups Friday include Drury University, the seventh seed, taking on the second-seeded University of Indianapolis (2:30 p.m.); the fifth seed, Rockhurst University, taking on fourth-seeded Northern Kentucky University (5 p.m.); and top-seeded Lewis taking on the eighth seed, Saint Joseph's College (7:30 p.m.).
The single-elimination tournament resumes Saturday with the semifinals at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., while the GLVC Tournament Championship is Sunday at 2 p.m.
