EVANSVILLE, Ind.—As the University of Southern Indiana volleyball team enters the final two weeks of its 2010 regular season, the Screaming Eagles know one thing is certain when it comes to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament picture: nothing is certain.
Just two matches separate 10th place from third place in the GLVC standings and the Eagles find themselves right in the middle, deadlocked in a four-way tie for fifth place with Drury University, Bellarmine University, and Northern Kentucky University (USI has the head-to-head tie-breakers over Drury and Northern Kentucky should the three teams end up in a tie, but Bellarmine holds the tie-breaker over both USI and Northern Kentucky).
Nipping at the Eagles' heals is their opponent Friday, a scrappy Missouri University of Science & Technology squad that is looking to break into the conference tournament for the first time in the program's brief history. The match is slated to begin at 7 p.m. in Rolla, Missouri. Live stats and live video can be accessed at www.gousieagles.com.
USI (13-10, 6-4 GLVC), which is 4-0 all-time against Missouri S&T, is currently a game in front of the Miners (11-11, 5-5 GLVC), who are 10th in the conference standings. A win would give the Eagles the advantage if a tie occurred with Missouri S&T and would go a long way in helping them secure a berth in the league's post-season tournament.
The Eagles wrap up their two-match road swing Saturday at 3 p.m. when they visit No. 20 University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Tritons are battling with Lewis for the top spot in the league standings and are in position to claim the right to host the conference tournament.
USI defeated the Tritons (18-4, 9-1 GLVC) in both the regular season and the conference tournament last season and has won three straight in the series dating back to the 2008 campaign. Live stats for the USI-UMSL match also can be accessed at www.gousieagles.com.
Leading the Eagles into Saturday's match is junior middle blocker
Danielle LaGrange and senior outside hitter
Brittani Oliver. LaGrange, who is currently third in the conference in kills per set (3.42) and seventh in attacking percentage (.317), has averaged 4.00 kills and 1.00 blocks per set while attacking at a .441 clip during the last six matches.
Oliver is averaging 2.86 kills and 3.00 digs per set during that same span and is currently second on the team with a .272 attacking percentage. She needs just 30 kills to enter the top five all-time at USI.
Following this weekend's road trip, the Eagles conclude the regular season at the Physical Activities Center against Quincy University and the University of Illinois-Springfield.
