Match Notes

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team opens Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament play Friday at noon when it takes on sixth-seeded Rockhurst University at the Neil Carey Arena in Romeoville, Illinois. The top-seeded Lewis University Flyers will serve as the tournament host for the third consecutive season.

USI (17-10, 10-4 GLVC) enters the GLVC Tournament as the third seed, marking the Screaming Eagles' highest regular-season finish since capturing the conference title in 2004. The Eagles also were ranked eighth in NCAA II Midwest Region rankings last week and are hoping to solidify their grip on an NCAA II Tournament spot this weekend.

Though the final regional rankings will not be released until later tonight, the Eagles' focus must be on their first-round opponent heading into this weekend's tournament.

Earlier this season, USI lost in three sets to the Hawks (22-9, 9-5 GLVC) in Kansas City, Missouri. The Eagles are 0-10 all-time against Rockhurst, which needed a five-set victory over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside last Saturday just to qualify for the GLVC Tournament.

Senior outside hitter Brittani Oliver led the Eagles in the loss to Rockhurst as she finished with eight kills and nine digs. Junior outside hitter Maggie McGovern and senior right side hitter Mary Walczuk led the Hawks with 14 kills apiece.

For the season, junior middle blocker Danielle LaGrange leads the Eagles and ranks second in the conference with 3.47 kills per set. She also is fifth in the conference with a team-high .332 attacking percentage and is eighth in the GLVC with a team-best 0.76 blocks per set.

Oliver is second on the team with 3.07 kills per frame and third on the team in both attacking percentage (.290) and digs per set (2.51). She also has been the Eagles' leader in GLVC-only contests as she has averaged 3.28 kills and 3.04 digs per set, while posting a .343 attacking percentage.

USI's freshman class also has been prolific this season. Setter Jorae Bradbury is sixth in the GLVC with 9.90 assists per set, while libero Kayla Heldman and middle blocker Emily Diedrich rank among the league-leaders in digs and blocks, respectively.

McGovern has led Rockhurst throughout the season, ranking first in the GLVC in kills per set (3.83) and points per set (4.53). Senior setter Alyssa Emerson is fifth in the conference with 9.95 assists per frame, while senior middle blocker Emily Levy leads the GLVC with 1.18 blocks per set.

In addition to the USI-Rockhurst matchup, the second seed, University of Indianapolis, takes on the seventh seed, Bellarmine University, at 2:30 p.m. The four-five matchup features Northern Kentucky University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis at 5 p.m., while Lewis University takes on the eighth seed, Drury University, at 7:30 p.m.

The GLVC semifinals will feature the winner of the USI-Rockhurst match and the Indianapolis-Bellarmine match Saturday at 5 p.m.; while the winner of the Northern Kentucky-Missouri-St. Louis match takes on the winner of the Lewis-Drury match at 7:30 p.m. The GLVC Championship is Sunday at 1 p.m.

Live stats, audio, and video can be accessed at gousieagles.com or on the GLVC website at www.glvcsports.com.