Matches set for Friday and Saturday

 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Following a stretch of five out of six matches taking place on the road the University of Evansville volleyball team is back home this weekend to face UIC and Valparaiso. The Purple Aces welcome the Flames on Friday at 6 p.m. before facing the Beacons on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Recapping the Weekend

– Last weekend, UE fell in road matches at Belmont and Murray State

– The Bruins finished with a 3-0 win while the Racers battled to a 5-set win over UE

– Josdarilee Caraballo and Brooke Herdes set career kills marks with 19 and 18 kills, respectively against the Racers

Hitting Her Stride

– Josdarilee Caraballo put together her top collegiate match at Murray State finishing with career marks in kills (19) and aces (6)

– Her 19 kills passed her previous mark of 13, which game against Georgia State

– She added eight digs in the contest and is averaging 2.26 per set

Top Ten

– Ainoah Cruz moved into the top ten in two different lists last weekend

– Averaging 5.15 digs per set in 2025, Cruz is second in the MVC and 8th in the nation

– She moved into the top ten in another list as her 1,280 career kills is ninth in Aces program history

Scouting the Opposition

– UIC opens the weekend with a 13-7 mark and sit at 7-3 in the MVC

– Antonie Kelnarova paces the Flames with her average of 2.79 kills per set

– Valparaiso sits at 17-6 overall and 8-2 in league play

– Ava Helming leads the way with her mark of 3.40 kills

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – On the final day of the regular season, the University of Evansville women’s soccer team fell to Valpo 3-0, falling just short of an MVC Tournament appearance. With the Aces’ loss and a win by UIC, the Flames claimed the final tournament spot. Evansville ends the season with seven wins, the program’s highest win total since 2021.

Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind./Reitz) notched the first shot on goal of the day in the ninth minute, as Emmy Brenner (Arlington, Tenn./St. Benedict at Auburndale) delivered a long ball from the Aces’ defensive half down to the box for Johnson, but her shot was saved. In the 22nd minute, Valpo nearly got on the board on a free kick at the top of the box, but the Evansville defense blocked two shots to keep it 0-0.

Just before halftime, the Beacons capitalized on a UE defensive mistake, coming up with the first goal of the match in the 45th minute.

Kathryn Tyler (Dallas, Texas/Liberty Christian) manufactured another look for the Aces in the 51st minute, testing the Valpo keeper, but the shot was saved.

Three minutes later, Valparaiso extended their lead, converting on a penalty to make it 2-0.

Valparaiso found their third goal of the day in the 78th minute and that was where the match would end, with the Beacons taking a 3-0 win.

Evansville finishes the season with a 7-7-2 record and a 3-5-1 record in MVC play. The Purple Aces notched their highest win total since 2021 with seven and highest win total in MVC play since 2016.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Seeking their first regular season conference title since 1991 with two MVC matches remaining, the University of Evansville men’s soccer team welcomes Northern Illinois on Friday night in the final regular season home game of the season. Evansville and Northern Illinois, along with Drake, are tied atop the MVC table with nine points. Kick-off from Arad McCutchan Stadium is set for 6 PM.

Last Time Out
Evansville senior Tancredi Fadda (Monza, Italy/University of Milan) notched his first career brace and freshman Devin Shepherd (Denver, Colo./Arapahoe) added a goal to power the Purple Aces to their first win over Louisville since 2001 on Monday night, taking down the Cardinals by a score of 3-1. The win was Evansville’s first over a power conference opponent since 2013 and the first over the Cardinals in Louisville since 1991.

Evansville jumped on top early in the match, scoring in the fourth minute to take a 1-0 lead. Fadda capitalized on a Louisville mistake, grabbing a loose ball at the top of the box and finding the back of the net for his third goal of the campaign.

Andres Escudero (San Sebastián de los Reyes, Spain/IES Joan Miro) nearly doubled the lead in the 11th minute, but his shot went just wide of the far post to keep it a one-goal game. Aces keeper Michal Mroz (Elk Grove, Ill./Elk Grove) was tested for the first time in the 17th minute and faced another shot on target in the 27th minute, but collected saves on both chances.

Evansville saw another near scoring chance in the 36th minute off a free kick, taken by Ben Zec (Carmel, Ind./Carmel). Zec placed a ball near the penalty spot for Håkon Edstrøm (Baerum, Norway/Norges Toppidrettsgymnas), but his header went just over the crossbar.

Just before halftime, the Aces broke through for their second goal of the match, with Shepherd scoring his fourth goal of the year. The chance was created by Zec once again, who lifted a ball from midfield line on the near side down towards the far side of the box for Shepherd, who uncorked a laser past the Cardinals keeper to make it a 2-0 game.

Louisville battled back in the second half, scoring a goal in the 64th minute to cut the Evansville lead back down to one. However, the Purple Aces kept their foot on the gas pedal and continued to threaten the Cardinals back line. Shepherd nearly secured his second brace of the season in the 72nd minute, putting a left-footed shot on target, but a great save by Louisville keeper Alex Svetanoff denied the freshman.

In the 78th minute, Escudero created another chance for the Aces, earning possession along the sideline in the Evansville attacking end. From there, Shepherd took the ball near the box before giving it back to Escudero, who delivered a beautiful cross into the box for Fadda. Off one touch and a spin, Fadda ripped a shot into the bottom right corner for his second goal of the night, delivering the dagger for a 3-1 win.

Series History 
Monday marks the fifth all-time meeting between Evansville and Northern Ilinois. The Purple Aces have won all four previous matchups, including a 2-1 win in DeKalb last year.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville men’s and women’s cross country teams return to the course on Friday morning for the MVC Championship, hosted by UE at Angel Mounds Cross Country Course in Evansville.

The day begins at 10:30 AM with the women’s 6k, followed by the men’s 8k at 11:30 AM. Live results can be foundhere.

Last Time Out
Evansville sophomore Chase Hayes (Noblesville, Ind./Western) had a career day at the Angel Mounds Invitational, posting the fourth-best 6k time in women’s program history at 21:53.4, while junior Samuel Lea (Worcester, United Kingdom/Worcester Sixth Form College) recorded the sixth-best 8k time in men’s program history at 24:34.5. As a team, the Purple Aces’ men’s squad finished seventh of 17 teams, while the women placed tenth of 19.

Lea paced the Aces once again, finishing 12th of 209 runners. James Cruse (Melbourne, Australia) placed 43rd overall and 38th in the collegiate race, while Rafael Rodriguez (Segovia, Spain/Colegio Claret) and Woody Burrell (Cedarburg, Wis. Cedarburg) landed in the top 60 overall finishers at 55th and 57th, respectively. Five Aces, Tommaso Losma (Lombardia, Italy/Liceo Scientifico David Maria Turoldo, Zogno (Bg)), Nathan Whitehead (Vincennes, Ind./Vincennes University), Nathan Campbell (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington North), Oliver Wilgocki (Chesterton, Ind./Chesteron) and Alejandro Navarrete (Mogadore, Ohio/Mogadore), notched personal bests. Evansville’s seventh place finish as a team was the best of three MVC teams competing in the meet.

On the women’s side, Hayes led the way for the Aces, finishing 18th in the 163-runner field. Kyleigh Wolf (Columbus, Ind. Columbus North) also finished in the top 50, placing 45th, while Avery Stephens (Newburgh, Ind./Castle) placed 53rd overall. Seven Aces, Hayes, Wolf, Stephens, Lauren Bradley (Russiaville, Ind./Western), Kyndall Anthis (Patoka, Ind./Princeton Community), Rebekah Sachs (Milwaukee, Wis./Milwaukee School of Languages), and Veronica Wilgocki (Chesterton, Ind. Chesterton HS), notched personal bests.

Meet Information
Friday’s meet will be hosted at the Angel Mounds Cross Country Course (8215 Pollack Avenue, Evansville, IN 47715) with a cash-only admission fee of $5.

Located on the banks of the Ohio River in southwest Indiana, Angel Mounds is on the site of a historic Mississippian Native American village. Within its nearly 600 acres, Angel Mounds is home to an interpretive center, nature preserve, hiking and biking trails, an 18-hole disk golf course, and a top-tier cross country course. Angel Mounds State Historic Site is home to the cross country programs at both the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana.

The flat and fast course is divided into 2k and 3k loops to accommodate 5k, 6k, 8k, and 10k courses. 15-20 feet of elevation change per loop. The course has hosted events such as the NCAA DII Cross Country Midwest Regional, NCAA DII Cross Country National Championship, NCAA DI Cross Country Great Lakes Regional, Great Lakes Valley Conference Cross Country Championship, and Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championship. Later this fall, the course will host the NCAA DI Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Great Lakes Regional (November 14).

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Soccer had two Screaming Eagles recognized with postseason Ohio Valley Conference honors on Wednesday. The league’s head coaches and communication directors voted on the postseason accolades.
 
Sophomore defender Emma Schut and freshman defender Tierney Mullady were recognized by the conference for their performances in 2025, receiving their first career postseason honors. Schut was named All-OVC Second Team, and Mullady was selected to the OVC’s All-Newcomer Team.
 
Both Schut and Mullady had a significant hand in anchoring the left side of USI’s defensive backline after moving into their respective roles. Schut initially started the season in the midfield before transitioning to left back. Mullady came off the bench in USI’s first two matches of the season before starting at centerback in every game she appeared in for the rest of the season.
 
Statistically, Schut recorded 122 interceptions and won over 65 percent of her defensive one-on-one battles in on-ball defensive situations. Mullady tallied 70 takeaways on the season and won over 75 percent of her defensive one-on-one duels. Additionally, the freshman had a success rate of 70 percent in winning aerial battles for 50-50 balls in the air.
 
Schut and Mullady were also impactful on the offensive end, with each registering a goal and combining for 24 shots in the regular season.
 
The Screaming Eagles concluded the 2025 regular season as the fifth seed in the Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Soccer Championship Tournament, going 7-7-4 overall and 4-2-3 in conference play. USI’s seven overall wins are a program best at the D-I level. USI is making its fourth consecutive OVC Tournament appearance in four years as an OVC member. In Thursday’s first round, USI faces eighth-seeded Southeast Missouri State University at Noon CT from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. The winner advances to face the fourth-seeded host Panthers on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.