EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (0-9, 0-0 OVC) travels to Dekalb, Illinois for the NIU Tri-Match that features the University of Rhode Island (3-6) and Northern Illinois University (5-3). The Screaming Eagles will face the Rams Friday at 11 a.m. before battling the Huskies Saturday at 11 a.m. for the final non-conference match of the 2022 campaign.
 
Game Coverage
Information about USI Volleyball, including live stats, video, and audio broadcasts, is available on USIScreamingEagles.com. 
 
Tickets
Information about tickets for the NIU Tri-Match can be found by following this link.
 
Screaming Eagles Headlines:
Anderson Honored. University of Southern Indiana junior Leah Anderson was named to the 2022 Chattanooga Classic All-Tournament team last Saturday. Anderson provided 40 kills, 32 digs, six blocks, and one ace in 10 sets.

Struggles in Tennessee. The Screaming Eagles went 0-3 in the Chattanooga Classic last weekend, falling to Miami (OH), UT Chattanooga, and Duquesne. USI put up promising numbers, nabbing 121 kills, 99 assists, 162 digs, and 24 total blocks in three matches.

Chasing History. Anderson is in line to hit the 1,000-kill plateau after accumulating 984 career kills in four seasons with the Eagles. She is also just 38 kills away from surpassing Rebecca Tillema for 14th most kills in program history. If successful, she will become the 15th player in program history to reach the 1,000-kill mark. Anderson also is within striking distance of becoming the 13th player to reach the 1,000-dig plateau (885). If successful in both endeavors, Anderson would become the fifth player in program history to reach both milestones.

Keeping it 100. Anderson has hit triple-digits for the Eagles with 100 kills. She is the lone USI player with triple-digit kills and this is the fastest Anderson has reached 100 kills in a season in her collegiate career.

Season Leaders. While Anderson holds the top spot with 100 kills, junior Katherine Koch leads the charge with 234 assists. Freshman Keira Moore has captured 129 digs while sophomore Paris Downing has a career-high 24 blocks. Koch and sophomore Abby Bednar share the service ace title with seven apiece.

OVC Leaders. USI has five players noted in four different categories in the Ohio Valley Conference statistical standings. Downing is second in the conference with 1.5 blocks per set and sixth with 24 blocks. Sophomore Lauren O'Neill is in a tie for fifth with one block per set. Koch is fourth with 234 assists and 7.55 assists per set while Anderson is fourth in kills with 100 and fifth with 3.12 kills per set. Moore holds a solid 4.03 digs per set to put her at fifth in the league and a tie for fifth with 129 digs.

OVC Top 3. The Eagles' defense sits in the top three in two different categories in the OVC. USI is third in blocks with five solos, 118 assists, and 64 total with two per set. The Eagles also sit in a tie for third in digs with 480 digs and 15 per set.

Bednar's Ohio Success. Bednar was able to secure an All-Tournament team selection in the Kent State Invitational. The outside/right side hitter tallied 26 digs, 22 kills, five blocks, and three aces in 10 sets played.

USI By The Set. This season, the Eagles have accumulated three opening set wins compared to winning just two sets between frames two through five. USI has lost in the third set five times and lost in the fourth set three times while only falling in a fifth set once.

Double-Doubles. There have been three Eagles who have reached the double-double mark this season. Anderson and Koch have secured three while sophomore Abby Weber has tallied two.

NIU Tri-Match. USI heads to Dekalb, Illinois to take part in the NIU Tri-Match, featuring the University of Rhode Island and Northern Illinois University. This will be the Eagles' third tournament in 2022 and feature the final non-conference match of the regular season.

About Rhode Island. The Rams have started the season 3-6 after receiving wins against Siena, Marist, and Long Island. In nine matches, Rhode Island has secured 318 kills, 296 assists, and 49 service aces. Defensively, the Rams have earned 403 digs and 54 blocks (seven solo and 94 assists). Before competing this weekend, Rhode Island duels against Bryant Tuesday night at home.

Leading the Rams. Senior Claire Wagner leads the pack with 111 kills and is second on the team in aces (9), digs (67), and blocks (15). Sophomore Katie Butler has accumulated a team-high 241 assists while sophomore Hannah Blaney sits atop the defense with 117 digs. Guarding the front lines is graduate student Gabrielle Shilling who has 28 blocks.

About Northern Illinois. The Huskies are coming off a 5-3 start after finding much success in the KC Roos Classic, sweeping Kansas City and Wichita State. As a team, NIU has nabbed 397 kills, 357 assists, and 45 aces, all more than its opponents. The high-powered offense ranks 11th in the NCAA in kills per set (14.18) and attacks per set (37.68). On the defensive side, the Huskies have reached 456 digs and 56 blocks (seven solo and 98 assists). NIU and Rhode Island will face off Friday after the Eagles and Rams battle at 11 a.m.

Leading the Huskies. Junior Ella Mihacevich leads the team in assists (300) and aces (13). Mihacevich is ranked 14th nationally with 10.71 assists per set and 78th in total assists with 300. Sophomore Francesca Bertucci also is making noise in the NCAA, ranking 26th in the nation with five digs per set and 83rd with a team-leading 140 digs. Junior Sammi Lockwood leads the Huskies with 30 blocks while senior Katie Jablonski has a team-high

Welcome to Division I. USI Board of Trustees voted unanimously in January 2022 to transition to NCAA Division I athletics beginning in the fall of 2022. The Eagles will be a full-time member of the OVC and will face Division I opponents during the regular season for the first time in program history. The Eagles spent 42 seasons in NCAA Division II.

Record Book Watch. The Eagles have one player climbing up the USI Volleyball Record Book:
–Leah Anderson is seventh in service aces (143) and 15th in kills (984) all-time.

More Information. For more information about USI Volleyball and Athletics, go to USIScreamingEagles.com or follow USI Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.