August 17, 2004

USI volleyball picked fourth in preseason poll

The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team was picked to finish fourth in the GLVC in a vote done by the league’s coaches. The Screaming Eagles, under the direction of new Head Coach Molly Alvey, return four starters, their starting libero, and eight letterwinners from a squad that was 21-9 overall and 8-6 in the GLVC in 2003.

Northern Kentucky University picked up five first-place votes to edge out Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as the top vote-getter. SIUE picked up four first-place votes, while last season’s GLVC champion, the University of Indianapolis, was third in the poll with one first-place vote.

Behind the Eagles in a tie for fifth were Lewis University and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, while Quincy University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis came in at seventh and eighth. Bellarmine University and Kentucky Wesleyan College rounded out the poll.

The GLVC is getting away from the divisions in 2004 and will reduce its post-season tournament from eight teams to six.

Unlike previous seasons, the top team during the regular season will be recognized as the conference champion, while the GLVC Tournament champion will receive the automatic qualifier for the NCAA II Tournament.

USI, which has appeared in four straight conference championship matches, is in search of its fifth straight 20-win season and a trip back to the NCAA II Tournament, after making its first appearance in 2002.

The Eagles start the season August 27 when they host the USI Invitational, a five-team scramble that features USI, the University of Indianapolis, the University of Central Arkansas, the University of Alabama-Huntsville, and Lincoln Memorial University.

GLVC Preseason Poll
Pl.School (1st-place votes).......Pts
  1. Northern Kentucky (5)..........86
  2. SIU Edwardsville (4)...........83
  3. Indianapolis (1)...............76
  4. Southern Indiana...............61
  5. Lewis..........................55
  5. Wisconsin-Parkside.............55
  7. Quincy.........................45
  8. Missouri-St. Louis.............30.5
  9. Saint Joseph’s.................28
 10. Bellarmine.....................21.5
 11. Kentucky Wesleyan..............11

Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information