University
of Southern Indiana
2001 Volleyball Outlook
The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team enters the 2001 season with high expectations after posting a 27-4 overall record and a 14-2 record against Great Lakes Valley Conference opponents a year ago. The 27-4 mark was the best in the program’s history. USI led the conference in hitting percentage (.263) and was third in service aces (225).
Despite the departure of former head coach Katie Loyer, the Screaming Eagles have high expectations in 200l. Taking over the reigns as head coach is former assistant Chrissy Smith (Decatur, Indiana).
Smith graduated from the University of Cincinnati, where she was a three-time All-Conference USA performer. She finished her career at Cincinnati ranked third in kills, fourth in hitting percentage, fifth in kills per game, sixth in total blocks, and sixth in games played. In addition to leading the Bearcats in hitting percentage in 1995, 1996 and 1997, she led the team in kills in 1995.
Smith will have plenty to work with as the Eagles return five of their seven players, including first team All-GLVC outside hitter Shannon Wells (Merrillville, Indiana).
Wells came into her won during her sophomore campaign, finishing second in the
nation with 0.89 service aces per game, becoming the second player in USI
history to earn All-Great Lakes Regional honors. Her 93 service aces led the
GLVC and set a school record.
Wells’ contributions were not limited to service aces either. In 2000, she
finished third in the conference with a team-high 4.55 kills per game, was
fifth in the GLVC and second on the team with a .303 hitting percentage. She
was ninth in the league with a team-best 3.28 digs per game.
Perhaps the biggest key to
USI’s success of a year ago was GLVC Freshman of the Year and first team
All-GLVC setter Kim Boehmer
(Cincinnati, Ohio). Boehmer finished fourth in the conference with 11.88
assists per game and set a school record with 1,236.
USI also will call on the talents of senior middle blocker Leah Mercer (Evansville, Indiana). Mercer was named second-team All-GLVC
after posting a career-high .294 hitting percentage (sixth in the GLVC) and 39
blocks. Mercer was second on the squad with 2.71 kills per game.
Rounding out the returnees are junior outside hitters Kristina Kavanaugh (Montgomery, Indiana) and Jami Turner (Muncie, Indiana). Kavanaugh was third on the squad with 2.82 digs per game while Turner was second on the squad with 3.22 digs per game.
New to the 2001 squad is
junior right side/setter Greta
Grinstead (Mt. Vernon, Indiana). Grinstead transferred from Northern
Kentucky University where she had 113 kills, 64 assists, 213 digs, and 33
service aces. In her two seasons at NKU, Grinstead helped the Norse to the
1998 NCAA Division II Elite Eight and the 1999 NCAA Division II Final Four. The Eagles have added
freshmen Leeanne Gross (Decatur,
Indiana) and Kristine Wheeler
(Indianapolis, Indiana). Wheeler, a defensive specialist from Roncalli High
School, was named honorable mention Academic All-State and All-County in 1999
and 2000, and ranked ninth in the state with 43 aces in 1999. She helped RHS
to the state and city championship in 1998 and the county championship in 1999
and 2000.
Gross was named All-State
twice and All-Conference four times at Adams Central High School in Monroe,
Indiana. She set ACHS single-season records with 537 kills (14.9 per match),
breaking USI Head Coach Chrissy Smith’s record of 367, a .387 attack
percentage, 82 blocks, and 290 digs. She tallied 1,496 kills and 758 digs in
her career at ACHS and helped lead the ACHS volleyball team to the 1998, 1999,
and 2000 sectional championships and the 1999 and 2000 conference
championships.
USI also welcomes to the
roster freshmen walk-ons Audrey Marshall (Mt. Vernon, Indiana), Randi
Raff (Renssalear, Indiana), and Rachel Byerley (New Albany,
Indiana), all outside hitters. Raff was an All-Hoosier
Conference selection in 1999 and 2000 and the
Rensselaer Republican
All-Area Player of the Year at Rensselaer Central High School, while Bylerly
was Academic All-State at New Albany High School.
The Eagles need the same type
of play this season that propelled them to a 27-4 record a year ago. The 2001
non-conference schedule has been strengthened for a possible run at a berth in
the NCAA Division II Tournament.
USI will play in four
tournaments, three of which feature inter-regional opponents, prior to the
GLVC Tournament. Some of the opponents include NCAA Division II Regional
participants Northwood University and Northern Michigan University as well as
NCAA II Elite Eight participant Grand Valley State University.
USI’s
first action will take place in St. Louis, Missouri, August 24-25, as it
competes in the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tournament. The Eagles will
then travel to the campus of Grand Valley State University in Allendale,
Michigan, September 1-2, before heading to Northern Kentucky University to
compete in the GLIAC-GLVC Crossover.
