INDIANAPOLIS - The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team was ranked 12th by the coaches of the Great Lakes Valley Conference ahead of the 2019 season, the conference office announced Tuesday. The Screaming Eagles finished tied with Quincy University for 12th place after the 2018 campaign.

USI Volleyball opens the Screaming Eagles Arena on September 19 to host the USI Invitational, the first regular-season action for USI Athletics in the new building. The Eagles open the 2019 campaign in the Capital Classic, hosted by the University of Illinois Springfield, squaring off with Winona State University on September 6.

The 2018 regular season top seed, Lewis University, landed in the top spot of this season's poll, followed closely by 2018 GLVC Tournament champion Rockhurst University; each receiving half of the conference's first-place votes.

Season Outlook

Head Coach Randi Raff enters her first season at the helm for the Eagles. The 2005 graduate of USI returns to Evansville after spending several years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the NCAA Division-I level, most recently at Georgia Tech.

The Eagles bring five seniors to the floor in 2019: Elexis Coleman (Joliet, Illinois), Amanda Jung (Belleville, Illinois), Lindsey Stose (Elkhart, Indiana), Mikaila Humphrey (Floyd Knobs, Indiana), and Lizzy Gardner (Lafayette, Indiana).

"We return an exceptionally strong senior group who have been invaluable in our coaching transition," Raff said. "I believe these five are beyond ready to cement their legacy and set the tone not only for this season, but for what the program looks like moving forward."

Coleman and Jung look to control the middle in 2019. Coleman led the Eagles in kills per set and collected 62 blocks in 2018.

On Coleman: "Elexis continues to get better each time she's challenged, and we anticipate that trajectory to continue."

On Jung: "Amanda has been stubbornly committed all spring and preseason to improving her blocking game, and it's paid off."

Stose returns poised to take the lead on the outside this season. The Elkhart, Indiana-native enters her senior season with 229 career kills, after tallying 139 a year ago.

"Lindsey is among the most physical outside hitters in the league. We've seen tremendous improvements from her on the court and in the weight room."

Humphrey returns to help sustain the Eagles' defense this season, after being a key contributor early on in 2018.

"Mikaila will contribute steady passing and defense for us. She has really blossomed into a quiet backbone for the team, and we anticipate big things from her."

Gardner returns to the back row as well in 2019, after starting 22 of 29 matches alongside recently-departed libero Haley Limper '19.

"Lizzy is helping to sustain our passing game and continues challenging herself to improve her serving game."

USI also returns middle hitter Taylor Litteken (Foristell, Missouri) and middle blocker Sidney Hegg (Menasha, Wisconsin) after productive first-year campaigns. Hegg led the Eagles in blocks, while Litteken was among the team-leaders in points scored in 2018.

The full results of the 2019 GLVC Coaches Preseason Poll are as follows:
 

1.	Lewis	216 (8)
2.	Rockhurst	204 (8)
3.	Illinois Springfield	194
4.	Drury	177
5.	Indianapolis	172
6.	Bellarmine	153
7.	Truman State	145
8.	McKendree	131
9.	Lindenwood	115
10.	Missouri-St. Louis	103
11.	Missouri S&T	91
12.	Southern Indiana	59
13.	William Jewell	57
14.	Quincy	52
15.	Maryville	28
16.	Southwest Baptist	23