EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Volleyball heads to East Peoria for the GLVC Volleyball Championship Tournament, beginning on April 16 with third-seeded USI playing sixth-seeded Lindenwood. The Screaming Eagles utilized an undefeated weekend with wins over GLVC-foes to rise in the AVCA rankings.

The Screaming Eagles ranked up to 21st following an impressive undefeated weekend with wins over division rivals Illinois Springfield and then-No. 1 Lewis. USI beat the Prairie Stars in four sets to sweep the season series against UIS. The Eagles then went to Romeoville with one thing in mind, an upset. USI beat the top-ranked Flyers in five sets behind impressive stat lines from a multitude of its players. In the GLVC East, USI improved to 7-1, only dropping its opening match of the season to Lewis in five sets. 

Up next for the Eagles is the first round of the GLVC Volleyball Championship Tournament against the sixth seed, Lindenwood. The Lindenwood Lions own an 11-7 record on the season, including two wins over ranked opponents. In the last meeting between the Eagles and Lions, USI swept the match 3-0 behind an outstanding weekend performance from Leah Anderson.

USI enters the first round GLVC tournament match on a four-match winning streak, beating McKendree, UIndy, UIS, and Lewis. In the four-match streak, five players are averaging two-plus kills per set with a team attack percentage of .238 and 13.94 kills per set as a team. Katherine Koch and Leah Anderson lead the way on offense with 3.63 and 3.50 kills per set while Abby Weber, Abby Bednar, and Taylor Litteken have all averaged more than two per set. Casey Cepicky has dished out 166 over the four matches with 10.38 assists per set. Defensively, over the same stretch, the Eagles have six players laying out for at least 2.75 digs per set. At the net, junior Sidney Hegg has been essential to disrupting opposing attacks with 1.53 blocks per set while the Eagles have held opposing forces to an attack percentage of .139. 

GLVC Tournament Information
The GLVC Tournament runs from April 16-18 in East Peoria, Illinois, at the EastSide Centre. 

The championship tournament is a single-elimination featuring the top eight teams via the GLVC PRS.

Tournament seeding:
#1 Lewis (4.68)
#2 UMSL (4.46)
#3 USI (3.90)
#4 Quincy (3.68)
#5 Missouri S&T (3.64)
#6 Lindenwood (3.42)
#7 Rockhurst (3.41)
#8 Truman State (3.28)

There will be fans allowed at the GLVC Volleyball Championship Tournament. Please visit the GLVC website and volleyball championship page for complete information.
Tickets will be limited to 200 per match; first come, first served (no online or pre-sale tickets are available):
$10 Adults
$5 Students (with College ID)
$5 Seniors (65+)
$5 Child (6+)
Free Children 5 and under
 
- Ticket sales will begin 30 minutes prior to match time at the main entrance of the EastSide Centre
- All spectators will be COVID screened prior to proceeding down to main court area
- Masking and social distancing will be required at all times inside the EastSide Centre and while waiting to purchase tickets
- Spectators must sit in designated area (designated area specifics are yet to be determined by tournament administrators- please check when you enter for any such designations)
- Bleachers will be sanitized between matches, fans must exit facility immediately following the match.
- Enter via the single main entrance and exit via one of the other two exits separate from where you entered (they will be marked); please abide by directional signs inside the facility
- Spectators must utilize the upstairs restrooms only

SEASON NOTES:
In the Screaming Eagles' impressive season, USI received its first ever national ranking in the February 10 poll. In the following weeks, USI would reach as high as 12th in the national poll and is currently ranked 21st.

USI Volleyball posted multiple impressive feats this season, recording five-straight matches without losing a set, beating Illinois Springfield, UIndy, McKendree, then-No. 6 Rockhurst, and Lindenwood. The 15-straight set wins were included in an eight-match win streak as well with the Eagles beating Maryville, WIlliam Jewell, and Missouri S&T prior to their loss to UMSL. 

In the GLVC, USI boasts multiple players ranking highly in statistical categories, including: Aces (1st - Anderson, 7th - Cepicky, 9th - Weber), Kills (3rd - Anderson, 9th - Koch), Points (2nd - Anderson, 9th - Koch), Assists (5th - Cepicky), and Hitting Percentage (3rd - Litteken)

Senior setter Casey Cepicky has maneuvered her way up USI's all-time assist chart to fourth with 2,883 in her time as a Screaming Eagle. Cepicky began the season sixth in the USI record book. 

USI's sophomore outside hitter Leah Anderson earned the program's first AVCA National Player of the Week award since 2011 with her performance against Rockhurst and Lindenwood where she posted 34 kills and a hitting percentage of .446, amassing 38.5 points (6.42 points per set). (Release)

Sophomore outside hitter Katherine Koch collected the first GLVC weekly award of her career following her performance in the trouncing of McKendree. Koch bombarded the Bearcats with 17 kills (career-high) and 19.0 total points (career-high) on .300 attack percentage. (Release)

Senior libero Callie Gubera added USI's third GLVC weekly honor, earning the Defensive Player of the Week following wins over Illinois Springfield and then-No.1 Lewis. Gubera recorded 50 digs (6.25 per set) over the two matches including a career-high of 38 against the Flyers. (Release)


HOW TO WATCH AND FOLLOW | April 16 | vs. Lindenwood | 10:30 A.M. | East Peoria, Ill. 
With limited fan attendance at the GLVC Tournament, fans can watch free of charge on the GLVC Sports Network, which is available both you're your desktop, mobile/tablet devices, as well as four over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV (4th Generation). GLVCSN.com is the official website of the GLVC Sports Network, while the GLVCSN mobile app is available for iOS in the App Store and Android on Google Play. Apple users also can use AirPlay with their Apple TV or some of the newer smart TVs. (GLVCSN FAQs)

Previews, live game updates, and post game information can be found via USI Athletics (@USIAthletics | #GoUSIEagles) social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

USI Volleyball can be followed directly on Twitter (@USIVolleyball) and Instagram (@USI_wvolleyball) as well for team updates.