EVANSVILLE, Ind.- University of Southern Indiana Volleyball travels to Columbus, Ohio, to take part in the Sports Imports Classic hosted by Ohio State University, along with Youngstown State University and Winthrop University.
 
The Screaming Eagles will take on Youngstown State on Friday, September 11 at 2 p.m. CT. Then, to mark the second Big Ten opponent of the week, after taking on Indiana University on September 7, USI will meet Ohio State for the second time in school history on September 12 at 3 p.m. CT. To wrap the weekend up, USI will play Winthrop on Sunday at 10 a.m. CT.
 
All three matches will stream on B1G+, which fans can have access to using a special coupon offered for the tournament for $4.99 using this link.
 
USI is coming off a four-set loss to #21 Indiana, which marked the first set taken off a top-25 Division I opponent in school history. Monday's match saw a record-breaking 2,125 fans in attendance, marking not only the most in program history, but also the highest number in the Ohio Valley Conference in the last decade. USI was recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as the seventh consecutive school to set an attendance record in the last week.
 
Against the Hoosiers, senior outside hitter Ashby Willis led the team with 12 kills and a season-high 18 digs. Willis leads the OVC in kills (112) and kills per set (4.31). She has also moved into ninth place among DI players for total kills, and 22^nd for kills per set.
 
Sophomore Aysa Thomas dished out 27 assists, nine digs, and a team-high three blocks. Fifth-year Aspen Jankowski came off the bench to land three aces and three digs, meeting her season-high in each.
 
About Youngstown State: The Screaming Eagles' first opponent in the Sports Imports Classic is the Penguins of YSU, marking the first matchup between the two schools. YSU is 2-4 in its overall record, losing the last three games to Butler University, Ohio University, and Marshall. UT Martin transfer Kylie Surratt leads the Penguins in kills (94), she averages 4.27 kills per set. YSU holds a strong defensive effort at the net, with three players with over 15 total blocks for the season. The Penguins are under the direction of Head Coach Riley Jarrett, who is in her third season at the helm.
 
About Ohio State: Saturday's match against the Buckeyes marks the second meeting between the two programs. In the first meeting on September 6, 2024, the Screaming Eagles took on OSU at the Florida Invitational in Gainesville, Florida. USI lost in a four-set battle that marked the program's first set win against a Power Four conference opponent. Ashby Willis, then a sophomore, tallied 14 kills and two blocks against the Buckeyes. OSU is 2-3 this season, with wins against Fresno State and Northern Kentucky.
 
About Winthrop: To wrap up the weekend, the Screaming Eagles will meet Winthrop for the first time in school history. WU is 2-2 on the season, coming off two home victories against Virginia Tech and Old Dominion. Winthrop tallied two weekly player awards after the home wins. Paige Bennett as Player of the Week with 37 kills across the two games, hitting .346, and setter of the week Lexi Thatcher who tallied 77 assists for 9.63 per set.
 
For updates on the Screaming Eagles throughout the weekend, follow USI Athletics and usivolleyball on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and online at usiscreamingeagles.com.