With October soon to draw to a close, its basketball time as the University of Evansville women’s basketball team opens a new season with an exhibition with Kentucky Wesleyan on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

The Purple Aces will feature six returning student-athletes and seven newcomers for the 2018-19 season. Returning for Evansville is 55% of its offense from a year ago, including its top-scorer in senior Kerri Gasper who led the Aces in five statistical categories last year; points per game (13.1), rebounds per game (5.7), assists per game (3.1), steals per game (1.1), and free-throw percentage (92.3%). As a team, Evansville earned the NCAA statistical championship for team free-throw shooting percentage, hitting 82.0% (347-423) of its attempts at the charity stripe last season
Back for the Aces in 2018-19 is redshirt senior guard Brooke Bishop, who missed 21 games last season. The Warsaw, Ky. native was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis just past the midway point of the 2017-18 season, but has worked her way back and joins a senior class of three for Evansville that includes Gasper and Tattenai Hall. To begin the season, Bishop was the team’s best three-point shooter, hitting 40.0% from beyond the arc. Bishop’s return will also add scoring pop to the Aces’ lineup as Bishop averaged 11.8 points per contest a season ago. The returners are joined by a talented group of newcomers to this Purple Aces’ squad. Three newcomers earned all-state honors in their respective states last season as seniors as Anna Newman and Sydney Tucker both earned the honor in Indiana, while Tayzha Buck was named all-state in Minnesota.

Aces go five sets against Redbirds

 

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – In another exciting contest, the University of Evansville volleyball team fell by a 3-2 final to Missouri Valley Conference rival Illinois State inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse on Saturday.

For the second time in her career, freshman Alondra Vazquez reached the 20-kill mark, notching 20 to lead all players.  Mildrelis Rodriguez had 17 for the Purple Aces (8-18, 2-11 MVC) while Kerra Cornist had 12 and Rocio Fortuny finished the night with 10.  Allana McInnis had a game-high 55 assists while four players reached 10+ digs, led by Rodriguez with 15.  Olivia Goldstein had 13 while Vazquez notched 12.

Cecilia Thon and Rodriguez both had three service aces on the night.

Illinois State (20-5, 12-1 MVC) saw Ali Line post 19 kills with Kaylee Martin finishing with 16.

After Illinois State scored the first two points of the night, UE got back within one at 4-3 on a kill by Alondra Vazquez.  The Redbirds got back on track, pushing their lead to 15-8 on their second service ace of the frame.  The Aces chipped away at the deficit as a pair of Alondra Vazquez kills and a service ace by Cecilia Thon made it a 16-12 game before Vazquez added an ace to get the Aces within just three at 17-14.  ISU fended off the challenge, scoring the final eight points to close out a 25-14 win.

Vazquez had the hot hand to begin game two, recording a pair of kills to give UE a 4-0 lead.  Her third kill of the frame added to the lead, making it a 6-1 game.  The Redbirds battled back, tying it up for the first time at 9-9 before a Mildrelis Rodriguez kill put the lead back in the Aces hands and an ace by her put UE up by a 13-11 tally.  The Aces extended their lead to six points at 22-16 on Rodriguez’ 7^th kill.  Olivia Goldstein put the finishing touches on the 25-18 win with a service ace.

ISU regained momentum to start the third set, jumping out to an 8-2 lead.  Vazquez helped UE get back in it once again as three kills, coupled with another Thon service ace, got the Aces within two at 8-6.  The Redbirds were able to extend their lead out once again, taking a 17-10 advantage.  They continued their run, winning by a 25-16 final.

Elena Redmond had an early service ace as UE took a 3-1 lead in game four before the Redbirds registered four in a row.  Evansville took the lead back at 7-6 before extending it to 15-12 on a block assist by Kerra Cornist and Rocio Fortuny.  After ISU scored three straight to tie it up, the Aces came back with two of their own to go back in front.  UE continued to hold the lead until ISU rallied back to knot the score at 21-21.  Evansville went back in front at 24-22, but ISU had the answer once again, posting three in a row to have set point.  Evansville fought back once again as a Fortuny and Joselyn Coronel capped off a 28-26 win to force a game five.

Evansville fell behind by a 4-0 score before a Rodriguez kill got UE on the board.  ISU kept the pressure on, going up 10-2 before clinching the match with a 15-5 win.

UE returns to the road for the next two weekends, traveling to Missouri State and Southern Illinois next weekend before going to Terre Haute to play Indiana State on Nov. 9.  The final weekend of the season will take place at home as UE welcomes UNI and Drake.