Aces preparing for season-opener next week
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Preparations are well under way for the University of Evansville volleyball team as they are working towards next week’s Indiana Invitational.
August 26 will mark the opener as the Aces take on Marshall before playing Indiana and Northern Kentucky on the 27th. Leading up to the opener, we take an inside look at the student-athletes on the team as they work towards the season and set their goals.
MAKING THE ADJUSTMENT
Pickerington, Ohio native Deja Clark is set to be an offensive force to the Purple Aces in her first collegiate season as an outside hitter.
“The main adjustment for me is the speed of the game, the college game is much faster,†Clark said. “I am also working on learning a new system, but it works for me. I am very excited about the season.â€
Since beginning her work with head coach Manolo Concepcion, Clark said that her game has seen great improvement. She has also been working with teammate Olivia Goldstein to learn her role and improve her skills.
Moving forward, Clark is excited to get the season underway. Already an offensive force, Clark is working each day to improve her all-around game.
“Obviously our team goal is to be conference champs and improve as a team, but individually, I want to improve my blocking and defense,†Clark added.
YEAR TWO
As a freshman last year, Indianapolis product Olivia Goldstein served as a defensive specialist for the Aces. She saw action in 56 sets and looks to see her playing time expand even more as a sophomore.
“In the spring, I was really working on the technical side of my game and trying to improve my technique,†Goldstein said. “I was able to get good experience as a defensive specialist last year, but am very excited to be in my natural position as a libero.â€
Not only does Goldstein have high expectations for herself, she is also ready to serve as a leader for a team that is comprised of nine freshmen and sophomores.
“We are going to be much more versatile this year, we are very young but are ready to come out and learn every day,†she said. “What we lack in experience, we make up for in athleticism and team chemistry.â€
LONG ROAD BACK
In 2014, then-freshman Cathy Schreiber burst onto the scene with 157 kills while playing in all 106 sets. Primed to do even more as a sophomore, Schreiber suffered a torn labrum in the spring of 2015. She was on pace to possibly return for the 2015 campaign, but ended up having to endure surgery last August.
A long road saw a recovery process that took a full year. Instead of letting that challenge bring her down, Schreiber turned it into a positive.
“It was definitely a challenge, when I first came back there was the fear of getting injured again,†she said. “But now that I have been back, I feel so much better than I did before the injury.â€
Schreiber first made her way back this spring, doing some defensive work to get back in the swing of things. Now she feels that she is at full strength.
“It took a full year for me to get back to 100%, but I feel great,†Schreiber said. “I am excited to be back and compete for a starting position. It will also be great to be back working with the team and developing consistency.â€
