EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (0-11, 0-0 OVC) will kick off Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend as the Screaming Eagles are set to battle Tennessee Tech University (3-9) Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. at Eblen Center. USI will then come back to Evansville to host Eastern Illinois University (6-7) for the OVC home-opener Tuesday at 6 p.m.
 
Game Coverage
Information about USI Volleyball, including live stats, video, and audio broadcasts, is available on USIScreamingEagles.com. 
 
Tickets
USI Volleyball tickets are on sale now, with adult tickets at $8, non-USI students at $5, and all USI students, staff, and faculty with a valid ID and any child 11-and-under are admitted free. The USI, Tennessee Tech volleyball match at Eblen Center in Cookeville, Tennessee is free to all attendees.
 
Screaming Eagles Headlines:
1,000 Ways to Kill. Junior Leah Anderson reached the 1,000 kills milestone after nabbing 19 kills in the NIU Tri-Match last weekend. Anderson became the 15th player in program history to reach this feat and is just 19 kills away from passing Rebecca Tillema for 14th most kills all time.

Bednar Honored Again. Sophomore Abby Bednar was named to the NIU Tri-Match All-Tournament team after collecting 18 kills, eight digs, seven blocks, and one ace in eight sets played. This is her second all-tournament honor after earning the award for her efforts in the Kent State Invitational.

Non-Conference Finale. University of Southern Indiana Volleyball completed its non-conference slate last weekend as the Screaming Eagles lost its 11th straight to Rhode Island and Northern Illinois.

You Have to #OVCit. The Eagles will open Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend when they battle Tennessee Tech Friday and Saturday before hosting Eastern Illinois next Tuesday. This will be the first NCAA Division I conference match for USI since joining the OVC in early 2022.

Season Leaders. Anderson leads the group with 119 kills as junior Katherine Koch holds a team-high 234 assists while Weber sits atop with nine aces. Freshman Keira Moore has received 165 digs as sophomore Paris Downing has earned 29 blocks.

OVC Leaders. There are five Eagles who sit atop the best in five different categories within the OVC individual standings. Anderson ranks fourth in kills and points with 119 kills and 134.5 points. Koch holds seventh most assists with 234 while Moore has tallied 165 digs, putting her at fifth. Downing is currently fifth with 29 blocks while sophomore Lauren O'Neill is tied for sixth with 27 blocks.

You've Been Rejected. The Eagles' defense sits third in the OVC with 1.95 blocks per set. USI has earned a total of 78 total blocks with nine solo and 138 assists.

History in the Making. With Anderson becoming the 15th player to reach 1,000 kills, her new goal is to become the 13th player to reach the 1,000-dig plateau (902). If successful, Anderson would become the fifth player in program history to reach both milestones.

Anderson's Amazing Career. Anderson currently ranks first within the OVC in three different career statistics. She sits atop with 3.00 kills per set, 0.43 aces per set, and 3.67 points per set.

About Tennessee Tech. The Golden Eagles have started the season 3-9, losing their last three to No. 21 Western Kentucky, Indiana, and Texas A&M in the WKU Invitational. The Eagles have earned 540 kills, 514 assists, and 59 aces while accumulating 570 digs and 67 blocks (12 solo and 110 assists). The USI, TTU match will be the first OVC match of the season.

Leading the Golden Eagles. Senior Taylor Dorsey has recorded a .337 hitting percentage, second highest in the conference while junior Skylar Boom is also racking up high numbers this season, tallying a .290 attacking percentage that ranks third highest in the OVC. Freshman Jordan Karlen has earned the third most assists in the OVC with 341. Three Eagles have been crowned OVC Player of the Week with sophomore Jazmine Yamilkoski and Karlen earning back-to-back Setter of the Week honors while Karlen was voted Newcomer of the Week.

About Eastern Illinois. The Panthers hold the best record in the OVC at 6-7. As a team, EIU has totaled 550 kills, 503 assists, and 59 aces while earning 715 digs and 61.5 blocks (15 solo and 93 assists). The Panther will host SIU Edwardsville before battling USI on Tuesday.

Leading the Panthers. Sophomore Kaitlyn Flynn, who earned OVC Offensive Player of the Week on 9/12, has accumulated 97 kills with 4.22 kills per set. Junior Giovana Larregui Lopez earned the first Newcomer of the Year honor this season as she totals 92 kills (3.29 k/s), eight aces, and 82 digs. Freshman Catalina Rochaix has stepped up for the Panthers, tallying a team-high 237 assists.

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