EVANSVILLE, Ind.--The University of Southern Indiana women's cross country team opens the 2010 season this Friday at the Appalachian State Mountaineer Open in Boone, North Carolina.

The Screaming Eagles are under the guidance of Head Coach Mike Hillyard, who enters his 14th season at USI. Hillyard is looking for his third straight GLVC title and sixth overall for the women's program. USI enters the season ranked 13th, nationally, and third in the Midwest Region.

USI returns three of its top seven runners from the 2009 roster. Juniors Jackie Henderson (Schererville, IN) and Adrienne Curtis (Louisville, KY), along with sophomore Lauren Minor (Evansville, IN), will lead the pack for the Eagles this fall. Having lost three-time All-American Mary Ballinger to graduation, Hillyard hopes one of the three can fill the large void Ballinger left.

Curtis, earned All-Midwest Region and All-GLVC honors in 2009 after placing 12th at the NCAA II Midwest Region Championships and 14th at the GLVC Championships. Henderson earned All-GLVC honors in 2009 by finishing sixth at the GLVC Championships.

Minor earned GLVC Freshman of the Year honors as well as all GLVC honors with an eighth-place finish at the GLVC Championships.

USI competes in two other meets-the Greater Louisville Classic and the Fast Cats Classic-before heading to the GLVC Championships in Kenosha, Wisconsin, November 6.