Aces set to face Miami and NKU
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Off to its best start in 40 years, the Purple Aces look to continue that success continue this weekend at the Miami (Ohio) Invitational in Oxford, Ohio. UE opens the weekend against the host RedHawks on Friday evening at 6 p.m. CT before squaring off against Northern Kentucky at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday.
Party like it’s 1981
– With a clean sweep at the Eagle Challenge, the Purple Aces improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1981; that season saw UE win its first 10 games
– Highlighting the weekend for UE was a huge road win over defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Morehead State; the Eagles were 17-2 last season and defeated Creighton for their first-ever NCAA Tournament win
– Evansville also picked up victories over Radford and Cleveland State
All-Tournament Team
– It was an excellent all-around weekend for Cecila Thon at the Eagle Challenge
– The senior notched 8.70 assists, 2.70 digs and 0.80 blocks per set on the way to a spot on the All-Tournament Team
– Thon set her season mark with 34 helpers and 13 digs int he win over Morehead State while picking up two solo blocks and two block assists
– Entering the weekend, Thon had just one solo block and no assists in her career before finishing the Eagle Challenge with three solo and five assists
Immediate Impact
– Hannah Watkins missed the first weekend of the fall, but it did not take long for her to make her presence known at the Eagle Challenge
– In a defensive clinic, Watkins picked up seven block assists and one solo block versus Morehead State before adding another solo and four block assists in the win over Radford
– With an average of 1.30 blocks per set in the tournament, Watkins rose all the way to second in the Valley
– On the offensive side, Watkins had five kills versus the Eagles
– In 14 matches during the spring, Hannah Watkins finished with at least one block before finishing with 0.94 per set, just outside the MVC’s top ten
Another All-Tournament Honor
– Senior Alondra Vazquez continues to lead the MVC with 4.47 kills per set; that average puts her 23rd nationally
– Vazquez has recorded at least 11 kills and 7 digs in all six matches this season while adding double-doubles in each contest at the Eagle Challenge
– The All-Tournament Team honoree at the Eagle Challenge finished the event with 3.50 kills and 3.40 digs per set
Early Season Accolades
– Junior Melanie Feliciano was named the MVP of the Eagle Challenge just a week after earning All-Tournament accolades at the PFW Invitational
– Her MVP weekend in Kentucky saw her post 2.80 kills and 2.40 digs per set, including a season-high of 11 kills versus Cleveland State
– Feliciano added 10 kills in the win over defending OVC Champion Morehead State
– Opening weekend in Fort Wayne saw Feliciano finish with 2.78 kills and 3.00 digs
– A consistent start to the season has seen Feliciano record at least 7 kills and 7 digs in all six matches
