EVANSVILLE, Ind.---The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team opens Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament play up Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (CDT) when it faces No. 25 Truman State University in the fourth match of the opening round at Eastside Centre in East Peoria, Illinois.
The Screaming Eagles (19-10, 9-9 GLVC) enter the single-elimination tournament as the No. 4 seed from the East Division, while the Bulldogs earned the top seed from the West Division after finishing the regular-season with a 25-3 overall record, 17-1 in GLVC play.
GLVC Tournament Pairings: The first round of the tournament, slated for an 11 a.m. (CDT) start, features the No. 2 seed out of the west, Rockhurst University (25-3, 16-2 GLVC), versus the East Division's No. 3 seed McKendree University (18-12, 11-7 GLVC).
East Division champion Indianapolis (18-9, 15-3) takes on University of Missouri St. Louis (16-11, 11-7 GLVC) in game two at 1:30 p.m. (CDT).
Following USI's match against TST, the No. 2 seed out of the east, Lewis University (22-6, 14-4), takes on the No. 3 seed out of the west, Missouri University of Science & Technology (17-12, 12-6) at 4 p.m. (CDT).
Southern Indiana Notes: The Eagles are coming off a 1-1 weekend, falling to Indianapolis in four, last week Friday before bouncing back to sweep Saint Joseph's College in straight-sets the following day.
Leading USI's attack is senior outside hitter
Fawn Ryan (Batesville, Indiana), who has totaled 328 kills thus far, averaging 3.35 per set. Trailing Ryan is fellow classmate
Lauren DeShaney (Appleton, Wisconsin) and junior middle blocker
Abbey Winter (Germantown, Illinois) with 272 kills (2.80/per set) and 264 kills (2.61/ per set), respectively.
Winter leads the Eagles at the net and in service aces, with 120 total blocks (1.19/ per set) and 38 service aces (0.38/per set).
Defensively, freshman libero,
Jessica Lee (Mackinaw, Illinois), leads the way averaging 3.88 digs/set (380 total digs) while junior right side hitter
Erica Oberbroeckling (Westfield, Indiana) follows up with 2.74 digs/set (271 total).
Sophomore setter
Quin Shoultz (Columbus, Indiana) leads in assists, with 939 total and an average of 9.88 per set.
Truman State Notes: TSU finished its final week of regular-season GLVC play with a 2-0 record, first sweeping Maryville University, 3-0, and then defeating Missouri-St. Louis in four.
Truman State, who fell in four sets to Indianapolis in the 2013 GLVC title match, is trying again for its first GLVC Championship title, after joining the conference last season.
Eagles vs. Bulldgos: Truman extended its overall-record streak to 5-1 back in October following a sweep of USI at the Physical Activities Center.
The Eagles head into the tournament looking for revenge, however, as it was TSU that knocked them out of the opening round of the tournament last year following a four-set loss.
Tracking the GLVC Championship Tournament: Live statistics along with a live video feel will be available for all matches. A link will be provided on the Eagles' volleyball schedule page on
gousieagles.com.
Ticket Information: Ticket prices for all of this weekend's matches are $10 for adults and $5 for children (ages 7-12), seniors (65+), and students with a valid ID. An all-tournament pass is available for $25 and children under six are admitted free of charge. For more information visit
glvcsports.com.
