Returnees
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EMILY RYAN #1 5'10"...Sophomore...Outside Hitter Batesville, IN (Batesville) MAJOR: Mathematics |
2003: Averaged 2.65 kills per game as a freshman...recorded a season-high 18 kills in a five-game match against Ferris State University...recorded 15 kills in a three-game match against Quincy University...recorded 10 or more kills in 13 matches...had a season-high five digs on three occasions. HIGH SCHOOL: Comes to USI from Batesville High School in Batesville, Indiana, where she earned varsity letters in volleyball, basketball, and softball...named to the Indiana South All-Star team after leading BHS to its second straight Ripley County Tournament championships...her efforts netted her All-Conference and conference MVP honors in 2002...earned Academic All-State honors in volleyball and basketball...helped lead the BHS basketball team to the 2003 sectional championship and was the 2003 co-MVP at BHS. PERSONAL: Born August 23, 1985...daughter of Phil and Pam Ryan.
Career Statistics
Year MP/ GP Att Kills
Errors PCT AST SA Digs
BS BA
2003 29/ 92 694 244
149 .137 1 0
53 9 19
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LAURA ELLERBUSCH #2 6'0"...Junior...Middle Blocker Newburgh, Indiana (Castle) MAJOR: Elementary Education |
2003: Earned second-team All-GLVC honors after recording a conference-high .358 attacking percentage, a team-high 1.03 blocks per game, and 3.29 kills per game...was second on the team and 10th in the GLVC in kills per game...also tied with Leeanne Gross for first on the team and third in the conference with 0.45 service aces per game...finished fifth in the GLVC in blocks per game...recorded a career-high 17 kills in a four-game match against Tusculum College and matched that total later in the season in a three-game match against Saint Joseph's College...recorded 10 or more kills in 21 matches and recorded her first-career double-double with a 10-kill, 10-dig performance against Ferris State University...recorded a career-high nine blocks in a four-game match against the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a five-game match against Quincy University...also recorded a eight blocks against Quincy in a three-game match...earned Academic All-GLVC honors for the second straight season. 2002: Earned Academic All-GLVC honors...saw limited action during her freshman year, but made the most of her time on the court...recorded a .471 hitting percentage in 51 total attacks...had match-high nine kills and a .615 hitting percentage against Kentucky Wesleyan College. HIGH SCHOOL: Helped Castle High School to the sectional championships in 1999, 2000, and 2001 as well as the SIAC championship in 2001...eight-time letter winner in volleyball, basketball, and softball at CHS, Ellerbusch...was the 2001 Evansville co-Player of the Year and was the winner of the 2001 Kiwanis Mental Attitude Award...named first-team All-Conference in 2000 and 2001 and was CHS’s most valuable player in 2000...set the school record for kills in a season (248)...All-Conference and All-Metro selection in basketball in 2002...co-captain of CHS’s women’s basketball team, Ellerbusch was named the team’s most valuable player...helped lead the CHS women's basketball team to sectional championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002 as well as a regional championship in 2001...member of the National Honor Society and the Academic Honors Program. PERSONAL: Born January 22, 1984...daughter of David and Patty Ellerbusch.
Career Statistics
Year MP/ GP Att Kills
Errors PCT AST SA Digs
BS BA
2002 11/ 15 51 29
5 .471 3 4
6 2 9
2003 30/109 720 359
101 .358 8 49
89 38 74
Tot. 41/124 771 388
106 .366 11 53
95 40 83
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CHELSE DOUBLER #5 6'1"...Sophomore...Outside Hitter Griffin, IN (North Posey/Winthrop) MAJOR: Exercise Science |
2003: Came on strong during the GLVC Tournament when she averaged 3.00 kills per game...recorded a career-high 19 kills against the University of Indianapolis in the GLVC championship after recording her previous career-high of 11 kills in the semifinals against Northern Kentucky University the night before...overall, averaged 1.78 kills per game to go along with 0.78 blocks per game. TRANSFER: Transferred to USI from Winthrop University where she redshirted. HIGH SCHOOL: Attended North Posey High School where she served as the team captain and was voted first-team All-Conference...named the best offensive player of the 2001 season...played USAV club volleyball for the Evansville River City Juniors. PERSONAL: Daughter of Jeri Ziliak and Keith Doubler.
Career Statistics
Year MP/ GP Att Kills
Errors PCT AST SA Digs
BS BA
2003 16/ 37 162 66
25 .253 14 10
22 6 23
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NATALIE ATZINGER #6 6'0"...Senior...Rightside Hitter Louisville, Kentucky (Holy Cross/East Tennessee State) MAJOR: Nursing |
2003: Averaged 1.73 kills and 2.10 digs per game...recorded seven double-doubles, including a season and USI-career-high 15 kills against Ferris State University and a career-high 17 digs against the University of Missouri-St. Louis...recorded 10 or more kills seven times and 10 or more digs nine times...tallied 12 kills, a .370 attacking percentage, and 11 digs in the GLVC semifinals against Northern Kentucky University...had a season-high five service aces against West Virginia Wesleyan College. 2002: Was a major factor in the middle during her first season with the Eagles...finished eighth in the GLVC with a team-high .314 attacking percentage to go along with 2.38 kills per game...had a season-high 14 kills against North Dakota State...also had 13 kills in 25 attacks against Northwood University...recorded a season-best five service aces against West Georgia. TRANSFER: Transferred from NCAA Division I East Tennessee State University...averaged 2.69 kills per game as a freshman at ETSU...was third on the team in kills per game and total kills (253)...finished second on the team in blocks (33)…helped ETSU to a 20-6 overall record, marking the school's best winning percentage since 1991…recorded a match-high 21 kills in ETSU's Southern Conference Tournament loss to the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. HIGH SCHOOL: Earned three letters for coach Dan Palmer at Holy Cross High School in Louisville, Kentucky...Atzinger was named All-State following the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 season...she was named All-Region after the 1998-99 and 2000-01 seasons...played for the KIVA club team for coaches Ron Kordes and Dan Palmer...her 2000 KIVA team finished in the top four at the AAU National Championships...earned eight total letters in high school, four for volleyball and four for the Holy Cross basketball team. PERSONAL: Born June 16, 1983...daughter of Dan and Phyllis Atzinger.
Career Statistics
Year MP/ GP Att Kills
Errors PCT AST SA Digs
BS BA
2002 34/111 609 264
73 .314 11 38 102
18 36
2003 30/107 492 185
72 .230 69 30 225
7 28
Tot. 64/218 1,101 449
145 .276 80 68 327
25 64
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LEEANNE
GROSS #8 5'10"...Senior...Middle Blocker Decatur, Indiana (Adams Central) MAJOR: Elementary Education |
2003: Named Academic All-GLVC for the third straight year and earned second-team All-GLVC honors for the second straight year...became the sixth player in USI history to record 1,000 career kills...ranks fourth all-time at USI in career kills and service aces and needs 291 digs to enter the top five all-time at USI...led USI in kills and kills per game as a junior...was eighth in the GLVC with 3.74 kills per game...and tied for third with teammate Laura Ellerbusch with a team-high 0.45 service aces per game...led USI with 277 total digs and was second on the squad with 2.52 digs per game...tied a career-high for kills in a match (21) on two occasions last season...recorded a season-high 18 digs against the University of Missouri-St. Louis...recorded 10 or more kills in 27 matches, 10 or more digs in 13 matches, and 12 double-doubles. 2002: Named Academic All-GLVC for second straight year...earned second-team All-GLVC honors after ranking in the top 25 of the GLVC in five of the six individual statistical categories...was 10th in the GLVC with a .306 attacking percentage and 0.41 service aces per game...was second on the team with 3.11 kills per game...recorded a career-high 21 kills against Hillsdale College and a season-high 18 digs against the University of Missouri-St. Louis...recorded 10 or more kills 17 times, including the last four matches of the season. 2001: One of the GLVC's best freshman in 2001, ranked 12th in the GLVC in hitting percentage (.283) and 17th in the league in kills per game (3.21)...played in all 32 matches and all 117 games for the Eagles as a freshman...recorded a season-high 20 kills against Northwood University and a season-high 19 digs against Saint Joseph's College...recorded 10 or more kills 23 times, including the last six matches of the season...named Academic All-GLVC. HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered in volleyball, basketball, and softball at Adams Central High School in Monroe, Indiana...named All-State twice and All-Conference four times in volleyball...set ACHS single-season record with 537 kills (14.9 per match), breaking former USI Head Coach Chrissy Smith's record of 367...also set single-season records with a .387 attack percentage, 82 blocks, and 290 digs·had 1,496 kills and 758 digs in her career at ACHS...collected four All-Conference awards in basketball and softball...helped lead the ACHS volleyball team to the 1998, 1999, and 2000 sectional championships and the 1999 and 2000 conference championships. PERSONAL: Born July 21, 1982...daughter of Thomas and Joan Gross.
Career Statistics
Year MP/ GP Att Kills
Errors PCT AST SA Digs
BS BA
2001 32/117
907 375 118
.283 16 38 290
15 48
2002 34/115 807 358
111 .306 22 47 295
25 43
2003 30/110 910 411
124 .315 13 50 277
25 40
Tot. 96/342 2,624 1,144
353 .301 51 135 862
65 131
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RANDI RAFF #9 5-10...Senior...Outside Hitter Rensselaer, Indiana (Rensselaer Central) MAJOR: Exercise Science |
2003: Played in key situations as a junior in 2003...averaged 2.03 kills and 1.94 digs per game...recorded a career-high 16 kills against Ferris State University and 13 digs against Hillsdale College...recorded two double-doubles, 10 or more kills twice, and 10 or more digs three times. 2002: Sat out the 2002 season. 2001: Saw limited time as a freshman in 2001...recorded a season-best eight kills against the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a season-high five digs against Texas Women's University. HIGH SCHOOL: Earned letters in volleyball, basketball, tennis, and softball...named All-Hoosier Conference in 1999 and 2000...also named Rensselaer Republican All-Area Player of the Year...led RCHS in kills as a senior. PERSONAL: Born September 28, 1982...daughter of Randy and Joan Raff.
Career Statistics
Year MP/ GP Att Kills
Errors PCT AST SA Digs
BS BA
2001 14/ 35 147 35
32 .020 1 0
10 0 5
2002
Did not play
2003 15/ 35 227 71
38 .145 1 11
68 1 3
Tot. 29/ 70 374 106
70 .096 2 11
78 1 8
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AMANDA PROBST #11 5'11"...Sophomore...Outside Hitter Wheeler, IL (Newton) MAJOR: Pre-Special Education |
2003: Named Academic All-GLVC as a freshman in 2003...used primarily in defensive and serving situations, averaged 2.28 digs and 0.36 service aces per game...ranked 11th in the GLVC in service aces per game...recorded 10 or more digs 11 times, including a season-high 16 on two occasions...tallied a season-high seven service aces against Kentucky Wesleyan College and recorded a season-high five kills three times. HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Newton High School in Newton, Illinois, where she was a three-time All-Apollo Conference performer. Named honorable mention All-State by the Champaign News-Gazette...helped NHS to three conference championships and two regional championships...earned MVP honors at NHS in 2001 and 2002 and was tabbed as All-Area by the Decatur Herald & Review as well as the Effingham Daily News...member of the National Honor Society and was a four-year honor roll student at NHS. PERSONAL: Born January 19, 1985...daughter of Jerry and Elaine Probst.
Career Statistics
Year MP/ GP Att Kills
Errors PCT AST SA Digs
BS BA
2003 30/110 164 39
28 .067 5 40
251 0 0
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KRISTINE
WHEELER #12 5'2"...Senior...Defensive Specialist/Libero Indianapolis, Indiana (Roncalli) MAJOR: Biology |
2003: Played strictly as a libero for the Eagles in 2003...played in all 30 matches and 108 games as a junior, recording 1.77 digs per game...recorded 10 or more digs in four matches, including a career-high 14 against Lake Superior State University. 2002: Played strictly as a libero for the Eagles in 2002...played in 33 matches and 111 games as a sophomore...recorded 1.59 digs per game...recorded a season-high 11 digs at Saint Joseph's College. 2001: Played in 111 games and appeared in all 32 matches for USI as a freshman...third on the team in service aces (40, .36 sapg)...recorded 209 digs (1.88 dpg)...had a season-high 13 digs on two different occasions. HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered in volleyball at Roncalli High School...named honorable mention Academic All-State and All-County in 1999 and 2000...ranked ninth in the state with 43 aces in 1999·helped RHS to the state and city championship in 1998 and the county championship in 1999 and 2000. PERSONAL: Born January 4, 1983...daughter of Jim and Brenda Wheeler.
Career Statistics
Year MP/ GP Att Kills Errors
PCT AST SA Digs BS BA
2001
32/111 24
3 4 -.042
11 40 209 0 0
2002 33/111 4
1 2 -.250 4
0 177 0 0
2003 30/108 12
1 5 -.333 9
0 191 0 0
Tot. 95/330 40
5 11 -.150 24
40 577 0 0
Newcomers
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CARA KEEVER
#3 5'9"...Freshman...Setter Ft. Wayne, IN (Bishop Luers) MAJOR: Sociology |
HIGH SCHOOL: Earned varsity letters in basketball, dance, and volleyball at Bishop Luers High School...earned All-Summit Athletic Conference honors and was the BLHS co-MVP as a senior in 2003...helped BLHS to sectional and regional championships in 2001 and 2002, as well as a second-place finish in the IHSAA State Tournament. PERSONAL: Born November 1, 1985...daughter of Steven and Rebecca Keever.
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ANDREA REISING #4 6'1"...Freshman...Middle Blocker Evansville, IN (Mater Dei) MAJOR: Physical Education (Teaching) |
2003: Redshirted in 2003. HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Mater Dei High School where she earned three varsity letters in volleyball...member of the two-time regional finalist squad...member of MDHS's sectional championship squads in 2000, 2001, and 2002...led MDHS in kills, recording a match-high 21 kills...earned first-team All-City and All-Metro honors...played USAV club volleyball for River City in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003...earned the 2003 Kiwanis Award. PERSONAL: Born August 7, 1984...daughter of Rusty and Carol Reising.
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STEPHANIE
WILSON #10 5'10"...Freshman...Setter Terre Haute, IN (Terre Haute South) MAJOR: Chemistry |
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Terre Haute South High School where she led her squad to back-to-back sectional championships, as well as the regional finals in 2002 and 2003...led Terre Haute South in assists in three straight seasons and was selected All-County in 2001, 2002, and 2003...set school records for season and career assists...was a first-team Academic All-State selection...named to the Nike-Crossroads Classic All-Tournament team twice and was a four-time volleyball scholar athlete. CLUB: Member of the Circle City Volleyball Club...helped lead her 15-club team to a USAV National Championship in 2001...has been a member of three national championship qualifying teams throughout her club career. PERSONAL: Born June 9, 1986...Richard and Mary Jo Wilson.
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EVA KIEFFER
#16 5'3"...Freshman...Defensive Specialist/Libero Mt. Carmel, IL (Mt. Carmel) MAJOR: Biology |
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Mt. Carmel High School where she was a two-time All-Conference performer and MCHS's MVP after leading the team in digs...named MCHS's best defensive player as a senior and helped lead MCHS to conference titles in 2001 and 2002. PERSONAL: Born March 11, 1986...daughter of Dennis Kieffer and Rebecca Neikirk.
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ANDREA
NIEMEIER #21 5'10"...Freshman...Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist Evansville, IN (Mater Dei) MAJOR: Pre-Radiology and Imaging Science |
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time All-City, All-Metro, and All-SIAC performer at Mater Dei High School...helped lead MDHS to a sectional championship and the regional finals in 2002...led the city in attacking percentage and was MDHS's co-captain and MVP in 2003...also named MDHS's 2003 Kiwanis Award winner in 2003. CLUB: Helped her club volleyball team to the Northeast Qualifier championship in 2003 and a second-place finish at the Mid-East Qualifier in 2004. PERSONAL: Born December 20, 1985...daughter of Michael and Doris Niemeier.
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MOLLY RAHMAN
#22 5'10"...Freshman...Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter Ferdinand, IN (Heritage Hills) MAJOR: Undecided |
HIGH SCHOOL: Earned first-team All-State honors as a senior in 2003 after leading Heritage Hills High School (Lincoln City, IN) to a conference, sectional, and regional championship...led the Pocket Athletic Conference in kills as a junior and senior and in blocks as a senior...was second-team All-State as a junior in 2002 and was voted by her team as the Mental Attitude Award winner...also played basketball at HHHS, earning All-PAC honors as a junior and a senior...led HHS in scoring as a sophomore, junior, and senior and in rebounding as a junior and senior...was voted the most improved player in 2001-02 and in 2002-03...earned three varsity letters for both volleyball and basketball. PERSONAL: Born December 27, 1985...daughter of Eddie and Gloria Rahman.
