LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bellarmine University wrestling team will return from a long absence from competition in Knights Hall on Saturday as the Knights will welcome in Truman State, Drury and No. 9 Indianapolis for Great Lakes Valley Conference duals action.

Competing in Knights Hall for the first time since Nov. 21, Bellarmine (1-7, 0-2 GLVC) will square off with Truman State (1-7, 0-2) at noon (ET) Saturday and follow with a dual against Drury (1-6, 0-2). Action will take place simultaneously on two mats, with Indianapolis (6-7, 1-1) and Drury also meeting at noon, and UIndy and Truman State battling in the second set of duals.

Bellarmine opened its GLVC slate last Saturday at Wisconsin-Parkside, falling 31-16 to UIndy and 51-6 to No. 2 Wisconsin-Parkside. The Knights built a 16-7 lead on UIndy after wins by freshman Clayton Catanzarite (133 by decision), freshman Alex Rhine (149 by decision), freshman Eric Beck (157 by major decision) and freshman Andrew Sams (165 by fall), but the Greyhounds rallied with pins in the final four weight classes to overtake Bellarmine.

"I think we came out with a great attitude for the first dual against UIndy," Bellarmine Coach Spencer Adams said. "As a team, we believed we could beat them even though they are ranked ninth in the country. Our guys were battling hard and we were leading going into the 174-pound weight class. We lost some momentum and lost the dual, and I think that hurt us against Parkside. We need to do a better job at rebounding from a loss, but that's all part of growing and maturing."

Sams and sophomore Gage Branson (141) have compiled 18 wins apiece for Bellarmine, Beck has 17 and Rhine has 15.

"We are very much improved as a team than when we started the season but to beat the All-Americans we have to get a little tougher," Adams said. "We're literally right on the edge of having a few guys in the top 10 nationally, and it all comes down to little things like securing riding time, not letting someone up at the end of a period and getting off bottom a little quicker. We have time to work on those things and, if all goes well, we will be where we need to be come regionals."

Bellarmine will honor seniors Ci'Vaughn Green, Cody Gibbons and Mitch Rusch in a ceremony before the duals. All three transferred to Bellarmine after St. Catharine (Ky.) College closed and Bellarmine absorbed the school's wrestling program. Adams was also the head coach at St. Catharine.

"(Ci'Vaughn) came into SCC from working in a factory and not really having great grades from high school to now graduating from Bellarmine and following his dreams," Adams said. "Odds were stacked against him and he has found a way to win in life. I'm really happy for him and can't wait to see where the future takes him.

"Cody comes from a similar situation as Ci'Vaughn," Adams said. "Cody trained horses for five or six years after high school and had no intentions of ever going to college. When St. Catharine started a program, he saw it as his chance to go back to school. His high school coach (at LaRue County in Kentucky) was Gary Canter (former St. Catharine assistant and current Bellarmine assistant), so it just felt like the perfect fit for him. He was actually one of the most active students at SCC and was involved in every opportunity available, and then when he came to Bellarmine he continued that habit. He just graduated in December and was offered a job back in September with Louisville Gas & Electric.

"Through the years, Mitch has always found a way to crack our lineup," Adams said. "He is the type of guy who is always going to find a way to come out on top of whatever life throws at him. Mitch has always been an asset to our program. If we need him to bump up a weight class, he does it; if we need him to drop down a weight, he does it. He's a true team player, and I think that attitude will help down the road in life.

"I hate to lose these guys," Adams continued, "but I am so happy at the same time. I can't wait to see them in 10 years with successful careers, beautiful families and big smiles on their faces!"

Drury and Truman State have both faced No. 5 McKendree and No. 19 Maryville in GLVC duals. Both squads were swept by the Bearcats and Saints. Drury fell 32-9 and 36-12, and Truman State fell 41-6 and 46-12.

"To beat both teams, we have to get bonus points in a couple weights and certainly can't give up pins," Adams said. "If our upper weights can keep the matches close, we will be fine."

For more coverage of Bellarmine athletics, follow us on Twitter (@BUKnights), Instagram (BUKnights), Facebook (BUKnights) and the BUKnights mobile app available for iPhone and Android.