EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team concludes its 2012 road slate this week with three crucial matches, beginning Tuesday at 8 p.m. when the Screaming Eagles take on Kentucky Wesleyan College at Apollo High School in Owensboro, Kentucky.
USI's bout with Kentucky Wesleyan was moved to a later start time and to Apollo High School due to an issue with the Panthers' facility.
USI (13-13, 9-4 GLVC), which is currently fourth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division, also takes on Bellarmine University Friday at 6 p.m. (CDT) in Louisville, Kentucky. The Eagles conclude the week when they travel to Lebanon, Illinois, to take on McKendree University Saturday at 3 p.m.
The Eagles are fighting for their NCAA II Tournament lives; and a late-season run of victories could help USI advance to the national tournament for the third straight year. USI lost a four-set battle with No. 10 University of Indianapolis this past Friday that would have bolstered their cause. They bounced back the following day with a three-set win over Saint Joseph's College.
USI's match with Kentucky Wesleyan (10-18, 3-10 GLVC) Tuesday is the final conference meeting between the two teams. The Eagles lead the series since 1989, 38-1, after sweeping the Panthers at the Physical Activities Center last month.
Kentucky Wesleyan (10-18, 3-10 GLVC), which is moving to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference next season, is coming off a 1-1 weekend that saw it post a three-set win over Saint Joseph's before suffering a three-set loss to Indianapolis. The Panthers, which had won just two of its last 255 conference matches dating back to the 1995 season, have gone 3-4 in their last seven GLVC matches.
Bellarmine (14-5, 10-3 GLVC), which visits McKendree Tuesday night, is one of the hottest teams in the GLVC, having won five straight matches and eight of the last nine. A win over the Knights, who figure to be in the mix for an NCAA II Tournament berth, would give the Eagles the season-sweep and a leg up on Bellarmine in any tie-breaker scenarios.
USI also is looking for the season-sweep over McKendree (12-13, 6-6 GLVC), which is looking to play the role of spoiler since it is not eligible for post-season play. The Bearcats, who also host Kentucky Wesleyan Friday night, saw a three-match winning streak end with a three-set loss to Lewis this past Saturday.
Leading the Eagles into the week is freshman middle blocker
Abbey Winter and junior libero
Kayla Heldman. Winter averaged 3.00 kills and 1.71 blocks per set last weekend, while Heldman averaged 5.71 digs per frame.
Live stats for all three matches will be available at gousieagles.com.
