October 24, 2001
Volleyball tied for 5th in
The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team is part of a three-way tie for the fifth slot in the latest NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional poll. The tie for fifth is the highest USI has been rated in the last 15 years.
Great Lakes Valley Conference front-running Northern Kentucky University is one spot ahead of USI in fourth, while the Screaming Eagles are tied with Ferris State University and Northwood University. The USI squad, which is 17-8 overall, defeated FSU, 3-1, and Northwood, 3-2, earlier this fall.
The Eagles will finish the regular season on the road, playing at Bellarmine University Friday, October 26 Kentucky Wesleyan College Saturday, October 27 Northern Kentucky Friday, November 2 and the University of Indianapolis Saturday, November 3. The GLVC Tournament, which will likely be hosted by NKU, will be November 8-10. NKU can secure the number one seeding in the GLVC with two victories this weekend.
The fifth-place ranking is a good sign for the Eagles, who are hoping for their first ever NCAA Division II Tournament appearance. Six teams advance to the regional, including an automatic qualifier from the GLVC, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and the West Virginia Athletic Conference and three at-large berths.
NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Rankings (10/24)
1. Grand Valley State
2. Findlay
3. Northern Michigan
4. Northern Kentucky
5. Southern Indiana
Northwood
Ferris State
8. Hillsdale
9. Michigan Tech
10. Lake Superior
SIU Edwardsville
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
