August 06, 2003
USI volleyball picked second in preseason poll
The defending GLVC champion University of Southern Indiana volleyball team has been picked to finish second in the conference in a vote done by the league’s volleyball coaches. The Screaming Eagles received three first-place votes and 85 points in the preseason poll as they were tied with Lewis University who receive 85 points, but just two first-place votes.
Northern Kentucky University, whom the Eagles defeated for the GLVC Tournament championship a year ago, was picked to win the conference. NKU received 89 points and four first-place votes.
USI is coming off a 26-8 season in which it won the GLVC Green Division as well as the GLVC Tournament. The Eagles also won their first NCAA II Tournament match as they topped Lewis, 3-0, in the first round of the Great Lakes Regional Tournament.
The Eagles, who were 11-3 in the GLVC in 2002, return three starters, including first-team All-GLVC and second-team All-Region setter Kim Boehmer (Cincinnati, Ohio). Boehmer is just two assists shy of 4,000 for her career and figures to become one of just a handful of players in GLVC history to reach 5,000 assists in a career.
Also returning for USI is second-team All-GLVC middle blocker Leeanne Gross (Decatur, Indiana). Gross averaged 3.11 kills and 2.57 digs per game while compiling a .306 attacking percentage as a sophomore in 2002.
USI, which is under the direction of second-year head coach Craig Bere, will start its 2003 campaign Friday, August 29, at the Radisson Inn/University of Alabama-Huntsville Tournament. The Eagles will begin conference play at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Friday, September 19.
The Eagles are looking for their fourth straight 22-win season. They have averaged 25 wins a year during the last three campaigns.
USI will start practice Sunday, August 10. Please contact the USI Sports Information Office at 812/465-1622 or 812/465-1121 for interviews.
GLVC Preseason Poll
Pl.School (1st-place votes).......Pts
1. Northern Kentucky (4)..........89
2. Southern Indiana (3)...........85
3. Lewis (2)......................85
4. SIU Edwardsville (1)...........78
5. Indianapolis (1)...............72
6. Wisconsin-Parkside.............48
7. Quincy.........................47
8. Saint Joseph’s.................42
9. Missouri-St. Louis.............29
10. Bellarmine.....................20
11. Kentucky Wesleyan..............10
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
August 5
Kavanaugh joins USI volleyball coaching staff
Former University of Southern Indiana volleyball standout Kristi Kavanaugh has been named assistant volleyball coach for the 2003 season. Kavanaugh will assist head coach Craig Bere in all facets of the USI volleyball program. (more)
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
