EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana volleyball sophomore outside hitter
Fawn Ryan was selected to the “Middle of Everywhere” Classic All-Tournament team.
Ryan averaged 2.20 kills per set as the Screaming Eagles finished the weekend with a 1-3 mark.
USI (1-7, 0-0 GLVC) opens its 2012 home schedule with four straight matches at the Physical Activities Center, starting with a Midwest Region contest against Cedarville University Tuesday at 6 p.m.
The Eagles, who open Great Lakes Valley Conference play Friday at 7 p.m. against league-newcomer, McKendree University, are coming off their first win of the season—a three-set triumph over Southwestern Oklahoma State University Saturday at the “Middle of Everywhere” Classic—after a brutal start that included losses to nationally-ranked foes such as No. 7 Washburn University and No. 3 Southwest Minnesota State University.
Ryan racked up 12 kills and a .242 attacking percentage against Southwestern Oklahoma State University after notching 10 kills and a .381 attacking percentage against Southwest Minnesota State the day before.
The addition of freshman middle blocker
Abbey Winter to the lineup last weekend bolstered the Eagles' play at the net. Winter, who missed the opening weekend with a concussion, recorded 1.53 kills and 1.20 blocks per set in the first four matches of her collegiate career.
Cedarville (9-0) is off to a fast start after sweeping four matches in the Charleston Invitational last weekend in Charleston, West Virginia. The Yellow Jackets, who will compete in the newly-formed Great Midwest Athletic Conference in 2013, will face the Eagles for the first time on the volleyball court.
USI also takes on McKendree in a conference match for the first time Friday evening. The Bearcats (4-4), who lost in three sets to the Eagles a year ago at the PAC, also won four matches last weekend after opening the year with four straight losses.
In addition to Cedarville and McKendree, the Eagles host Bellarmine University Saturday at 3 p.m. and Kentucky Wesleyan College September 18 at 7 p.m.
Bellarmine (2-1, 0-0 GLVC), which visits Transylvania University Tuesday night before traveling to Owensboro, Kentucky, to open league play against Kentucky Wesleyan, has won two straight matches after falling to Saint Joseph's College in a non-conference match to begin the season.
Kentucky Wesleyan (4-5, 0-0 GLVC) has won four of its last five matches after opening the year with four straight setbacks.
