EPD REPORT

UE drops 5-set match on Friday

 Sophomore Rachel Tam had a career-high 27 kills as the University of Evansville volleyball team fell by a 3-2 final on Friday evening in Carbondale.

Tam recorded her top college total in 79 attempts, which was also the most in her time as a Purple Ace (6-9, 0-3 MVC).  Cathy Schreiber had another great night, posting 17 kills while hitting .325.  Allana McInnis finished with 47 assists and Cassie Brooks was great defensively, notching 28 digs.

Southern Illinois (4-11, 3-1 MVC) was led by Nellie Fredriksson, who had 14 kills.  Ashley Edelen led everyone with 29 digs.

Evansville saw things go its way early on, posting victories in the opening two sets.  Game one saw UE go up by a 10-8 score early on as Tam had one of her 27 kills.  Southern Illinois took its turn, going up by two points on three occasions.  The latest was at 21-19.  Tam made sure that lead did not stand.  Back-to-back service aces were part of a 3-0 run that gave the Aces the lead.  From there, they were able to hang on for a 26-24 win.

Things were a little easier for the Aces in set two.  After going up 4-1 on three Tam kills and a Schreiber service ace, UE extended its advantage to 12-8.  The Salukis close the gap to just one at 21-20 on an Andrea Estrada kill, but it was Tam coming through in the clutch once again.  Two more kills marked the final two tallies of the set, giving UE a 25-21 win and a 2-0 match lead.

With their backs against the wall, SIU roared its way to a 25-10 win in the third frame.  They hit .538 in the set.  Game four also went SIU’s way.  With the score knotted at 21-21, Southern Illinois received a pair of Patience Brown kills to score the final four tallies en route to a 25-21 win, forcing a fifth set

The Salukis were in good shape to start, posting three of the first four points.  Evansville refused to give up, forcing an SIU error to tie it up at 8-8.  SIU was on the verge of clinching the match, taking a 14-11 lead, but the Aces continued to show their resilience.  Behind a pair of Schreiber kills, UE tied it up at 14-14.  Momentum went back to SIU as a pair of UE service errors helped them clinch the victory with a 17-15 win in the fifth set.

Tomorrow night, UE will look to pick up a road win at Missouri State.  The Aces and Bears square off at 7 p.m. in Springfield, Mo.

The University of Southern Indiana women’s soccer team battled to a 0-0 double-overtime tie versus Lewis University Friday evening in Romeoville, Illinois. USI goes to 4-2-3 overall and 2-1-3 in GLVC play, while Lewis ends the match 4-4-1 overall, 3-3-1 in the league.

The double-overtime match was the fourth in the last five matches, while the double-overtime tie was the third for the Screaming Eagles in the last four outings.

In the defensive stalemate, USI had the slight advantage in shots, 19-16, while both teams had seven shots on-goal. The Eagles also had the lead in corner kicks, 8-4.

Between the posts, junior goalkeeper Emily Hopkins (Greenfield, Indiana) recorded her third tie and fourth shutout of the season. Hopkins, who has three shutouts in the last four matches, blanked the Flyers by making six saves against 16 total shots.

USI concludes the two-match road trip Sunday when it visits the University of Illinois Springfield. The match is slated for a special 2:30 p.m. kickoff for the match.

Illinois Springfield enters a match later tonight versus McKendree University with a 6-2-2 overall record, 3-2-1 in the league in Springfield, Illinois. The Eagles have been dominant in the all-time series with the Prairie Stars, posting a 7-0-1 mark in the eight matches. USI won last year, 4-0, at Strassweg Field.

The next homestand for the Eagles is in two weeks when they host Quincy University October 6 and Truman State University October 7 at Strassweg Field.

Aces in action at Wesselman Park

 This weekend, the University of Evansville women’s tennis squad teams up with USI to host the Evansville Metro Collegiate Invite at Wesselman Park.

Action starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and will feature six squads including the Purple Aces, Screaming Eagles, Belmont, Bellarmine, Northern Alabama and UT Martin.  Admission is free all weekend.

In the final day of their season-opening tournament, a perfect showing in flight two doubles by Diana Tkachenko and Daria Penstova highlighted the final day of the Greater Cincinnati Invitational at Lindner Family Tennis Center.

The duo started the day with a win over NKU’s Culbertson and Watton by a final of 7-5.  In the finals, they hung on for a 7-6 victory to take the crown.  Flight one doubles saw Chieko Yamada and Theodora Soldatou fall to Eastern Kentucky’s Viktorija Demcenkova and Kristina Lagoda.

Main draw singles saw the Aces go 1-1.  Marie Kepelevich picked up the win at flight four, defeating Kelly Pleiman of Dayton, 6-1, 6-4, but fell in the finals Rakasha Bode of St. Francis, 7-5, 4-6, 1-0.  Daria Pentsova was victorious in flight two on Friday, but on Saturday, she fell to EKU’s Lagoda, 7-5, 6-4, 1-0 (7).

Purple Aces set for Butler Invitational

 Both the University of Evansville men’s and women’s golf teams are set to trek to Indianapolis early next week to take part in the Butler Invitational.

Highland Country Club will be the host course for the tournament.  The men will play a total of 54 holes with 36 on Monday and 18 on Tuesday.  The women’s event features two rounds of 18.  Play for both begins with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. ET Monday with Tuesday’s round starting at 8:30 a.m.

Eight men’s squads will be playing including: Butler, Morehead State, IUPUI, Vincennes, Chicago State, Indianapolis and Marian.  The women’s field includes: Butler, Bellarmine, Chicago State, Fort Wayne, Youngstown State, IUPUI, Marian, Indiana State, Delaware State and Indianapolis.

Cameron Weyer was the big mover of the day for the men’s golf team as his 1-over 72 on Monday saw him tie for 29^th at the NKU Fall Collegiate Classic at Elks Run Golf Club.  Weyer’s round, coupled with Sunday’s rounds of 77 and 76, saw him tie for 29^th at the tournament with a 12-over 225.  He was the low shooter of the day for the Purple Aces.  Noah Reese matched Weyer’s finish.  Reese carded his third score of 75 of the tournament to notch a 225 as an individual.

Jessie Brumley was next for UE.  He posted an 81 in round three to finish with a 3-round total of 240.  His score was tied for 72^nd.  Next up was Gabe Rohleder.  The freshman recorded an 82 to complete play with a 241.  Two strokes behind him was Spencer Wagner.  He had his best round of the weekend, posting a 75 on his way to a final tally of 243.

Robert Waggoner rounded out the UE contingent as his final day score of 85 put him with a total of 251 strokes in 54 holes of play.  Evansville completed the tourney in 14^thplace with a score of 939.  UE made a run against Green Bay, falling two short of 13^th.  Butler held off a furious rally by Oakland in the team standings.  The Bulldogs finished four shots ahead of Oakland, 868-872.

Last time out for the women at the Ball State Cardinal Classic, Maria Pickens and Madison Chaney notched the low scores of the final day at The Players Club in Yorktown, Ind.

Pickens and Chaney each registered rounds of 80 to improve in the individual standings.  Pickens completed the tournament with a 242, tying for 88th, while Chaney’s round saw her wrap up the event with a 250.

Sophia Rohleder led the way for the Purple Aces.  A final-round score of 83 saw the freshman card a 240 in three rounds of play, tying for 84th place.  Pickens followed her with a 242 while Minka Gill was third on the squad.  Gill posted an 87 on Tuesday to total 246 strokes for the tourney.  She took 93rd.

Chaney was fourth for UE while Giulia Mallmann completed the contingent for UE, totaling a 268 in the tournament.  As