EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Volleyball returns to Great Lakes Valley Conference play Friday at 7 p.m. when it visits the University of Illinois Springfield. The Screaming Eagles finish their nearly one-month long stretch away from Screaming Eagles Arena Saturday at 3 p.m. when they visit McKendree University for a conference tilt.
USI (11-9, 5-4 GLVC) is looking to stop a five-match losing streak that began with a five-set loss at Rockhurst University two weeks ago. The Eagles also suffered a three-set loss to Southwest Baptist University the following day before going 0-3 at the Midwest Region Crossover last weekend.
If you go
Fans are permitted at both Illinois Springfield and McKendree. Face coverings are required, and fans are asked to maintain proper social distancing at both facilities.
Game Coverage
Both matches will be streamed on the GLVC Sports Network, while live stats will be available at GoUSIEagles.com.
Notes
• Current road stretch. USI is just 1-5 during its current eight-match road stretch and has seen its team attacking percentage drop from .226 to .204 during that time. USI has hit .158 in the last six matches, while the opposition has attacked at a .221 clip.
• Night and day. There is a night and day difference in USI's performance at Screaming Eagles Arena compared to its performance away from home. At Screaming Eagles Arena, the Eagles are 8-0, hitting .256, averaging 14.22 kills per set and holding the opposition to 9.22 kills per frame and a .115 attacking percentage.
USI's opposition is hitting .234 with 13.20 kills per set in its 12 road and neutral site matches, while the Eagles, who are 3-9 away from Screaming Eagles Arena, are hitting .176 with 11.98 kills per frame.
• Season leaders. Sophomore outside hitter
Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois) averages 2.58 kills, 0.59 aces and 3.34 points per set to lead the Eagles, while senior setter
Casey Cepicky (St. Louis, Missouri) is averaging 9.30 assists, 2.41 digs and 0.61 blocks per set.
Senior libero
Callie Gubera (Thorntown, Indiana) leads USI with 4.01 digs per frame, while senior middle blocker
Sidney Hegg (Menasha, Wisconsin) is averaging 1.82 kills and a team-high 0.92 blocks per set to go along with a .321 attacking percentage. Junior middle hitter
Taylor Litteken (Foristell, Missouri) leads USI with a .335 attacking percentage and is averaging 2.12 kills and 0.85 blocks per frame.
• Scouting the opposition. Illinois Springfield is 8-12 overall and 4-5 in GLVC play after going 2-1 at the Midwest Region Crossover. Freshman outside hitter Angela Denney averages 2.55 kills and 2.87 digs per set to lead the Prairie Stars, who opened the year with a 2-8 record before reeling off four straight wins. USI is 10-6 all-time versus the Stars and have won the last three matches in the series. USI won both meetings last season, including a three-set win at USI last January and a four-set win in Springfield in April.
USI also has a three-match winning streak over McKendree after sweeping the Bearcats (6-13, 2-6 GLVC) last season. The Eagles are 11-8 since 2000 with McKendree, which went 2-1 at the Midwest Region Crossover last weekend. Senior middle blocker Hope Gramly averages 2.88 kills and 1.15 blocks per set to lead the Bearcats, who host the University of Indianapolis Friday.
• Looking forward. USI returns to Screaming Eagles Arena October 29 when it hosts William Jewell College. The Eagles are scheduled to play five of their final six matches at home.
