EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team faces a familiar foe to open the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament this weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana. USI, the fifth seed in this weekend's 10-team tournament, squares off against No. 16 Northern Kentucky University in the opening round Friday at 2:30 p.m. (CST).

USI (20-9, 14-4 GLVC), which was just a game behind the top-seed and tournament host University of Indianapolis for first-place in the conference standings, is facing the fourth-seeded Norse for the third time this season and the second time in the last week.

The Screaming Eagles lost to Northern Kentucky (24-4, 14-4 GLVC) in four sets last week in Highland Heights, Kentucky, and in three sets earlier this season at the Physical Activities Center.

USI and Northern Kentucky are meeting in the GLVC Tournament for the sixth time since 2000 and the eighth time overall. The Norse won the first four meetings with USI in conference tournament play, but the Eagles have won the last three, including a five-set victory in 2008. From 2000-02, USI and Northern Kentucky met in the GLVC Championship match three times, with USI capturing its first-ever conference title in 2002.

The Eagles, who remained sixth in the latest NCAA II Midwest Region rankings, are looking for their third GLVC Tournament title and their first since 2004. In addition, the Eagles are attempting to strengthen an NCAA II Tournament resume that includes victories over the top three teams in this weekend's tournament.

GLVC Tournament play begins Friday at 7 a.m. (CST) when 10th-seeded Drury University squares off with seventh-seeded University of Wisconsin-Parkside for the right to play second-seeded and No. 17-ranked Lewis University Friday evening. Rockhurst University, the eighth seed, takes on ninth-seeded Quincy University at 9:30 a.m. for the right to take on No. 21-ranked Indianapolis Friday night.

Missouri University of Science & Technology, the GLVC West Division champions and the third seed in the tournament, faces sixth-seeded University of Missouri-St. Louis at noon, while Lewis' match against the winner of the Drury/Wisconsin-Parkside match is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start. Indianapolis faces the winner of the Rockhurst/Quincy match at 7:30 p.m. to conclude the first day.

The GLVC semifinals are scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., while the championship match is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. Live stats for all of USI's matches this weekend can be accessed at gousieagles.com.

In addition to USI, the latest NCAA II Midwest Region rankings included six GLVC teams and four GLIAC institutions. Indianapolis was ranked third, while Lewis and Northern Kentucky were ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. Missouri S&T and Missouri-St. Louis were ranked eighth and ninth, respectively, while the GLIAC's Hillsdale College and Ferris State University held the top two spots. Saginaw Valley State University and Northern Michigan University were seventh and 10th, respectively, to round out this week's rankings.