EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team opens its 2010 campaign Friday at 11:30 a.m. when it takes on the University of West Florida in the UWF Comfort Inn-vitational in Pensacola, Florida.
USI’s bout with West Florida is the first of four matches the Screaming Eagles will play during their opening weekend. The Eagles also play Wilmington University (Delaware) Friday at 4:30 p.m. and the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras Saturday at 9:30 a.m. They conclude their opening weekend Saturday at 3:30 p.m. when the Eagles take on The University of Alabama-Huntsville.
The Eagles, who were picked to finish sixth in the GLVC by the league’s coaches, return nine players from their 2009 roster.
Senior outside hitter
Brittani Oliver and junior middle blocker
Danielle LaGrange are two of the Eagles’ top returners in 2010.
Oliver, who needs just 86 kills to become the 10th player in school history to reach 1,000, averaged a team-high 2.93 kills per set in 2009, ranking her 11th in the GLVC. LaGrange, who racked up 27 kills against the University of Indianapolis in the GLVC Tournament last season, was second on the team and 12th in the GLVC with 2.83 kills per set. She also was 10th in the league with a team-best .304 attacking percentage.
USI’s match against West Florida marks the third meeting between the two schools in the last five years. The Eagles defeated the Argos 3-0 in 2006, but lost to West Florida 3-0 in 2007.
The Eagles’ contests with Wilmington and Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras mark the first-ever meetings with either program, while their bout with Alabama-Huntsville is the ninth meeting with the Chargers since 1989. Alabama-Huntsville leads the series since 1989, 6-2, though USI won the last contest, 3-1, in 2006.