EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Four weeks, eight states, and more than 60 hours of bus time has the University of Southern Indiana volleyball team looking forward to its home-opener Friday at 7 p.m. against Drury University.
The Screaming Eagles (7-7, 1-1 GLVC), who have played in four different states against 14 different teams throughout the first four weeks of the season, also host Rockhurst University Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Physical Activities Center.
USI is coming off a tough four-set loss at Northern Kentucky University in which it recorded 14 blocks and held the Norse to a .149 attacking percentage. The Eagles surrendered large leads in both the first and fourth sets and allowed the Norse to record 13 service aces as it fell to .500 on the season.
Junior outside hitter Brittani Oliver had a match-high 21 kills to go with a .333 attacking percentage, nine digs, and five blocks against Northern Kentucky. She leads the Eagles with 3.16 kills per set and is third on the team with 2.38 digs per frame.
USI also has been getting solid efforts at the net from senior middle blocker Ashley Henricks and senior setter Melanie Pund. Henricks had nine blocks against Northern Kentucky and five blocks in USI's three-set victory over Bellarmine University the night before, while Pund had four blocks against Bellarmine and five against Northern Kentucky.
Drury (10-4, 2-0 GLVC) has won three straight matches entering its bout with USI. The Eagles split the season-series with the Panthers last year, with each team winning on their respective home courts.
On Saturday, the Eagles will be looking for their first-ever win over Rockhurst, which owns an 8-0 record over the Eagles since joining the GLVC in 2005. The Hawks (6-8, 1-1 GLVC), who visit Kentucky Wesleyan College Friday night, are coming off a 3-0 win over Maryville University last Saturday and have won three of their last four matches.
Ticket prices for all USI regular-season home matches are $5 for adults (ages 18 and over) and $3 for non-USI students (ages 6-17). USI students and faculty with a valid ID as well as children ages five and under are admitted free of charge.
