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USI Women’s Swim and Dive was firing on all cylinders at EIU

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EVANSVILLE, Ind.- The University of Southern Indiana Swimming and Diving team completed their first men’s and women’s sweep in program history on Friday night. USI traveled to Eastern Illinois University to take on the Summit League rival in a swimming meet only.

The women won by a score of 149-109, while the men also found their groove winning 168-93.

The team continues to defy the odds as both squads were picked to finish last in the Summit League Preseason Coaches’ Poll under EIU. USI hopes to use the emphatic victories as stepping stones to making a jump in the Summit League Championships this February.

Women
The past two regular season meets between the Screaming Eagles and the Panthers have resulted in an average differential of just three points. However, this time the women left no doubt, winning by 40. The key to the victory was USI’s ability to come out of the gate strong and finish, racking up eight first place finishes out of 14 heats.

Freshman Caiya Cooper (LaPorte, Indiana) set the tone with a first-place finish in the 1000 yard freestyle (10:59:28). Freshman Hallie Meier (Plainfield, Indiana) followed up with her first winning heat of the year in the 200 yard freestyle (1:58.83). Freshman Naomi Weaver (Greenwood, Indiana) also earned her first heat victory of the year in the 100 yard backstroke (1:02.62).

Freshman Hayden Shurtz (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) continued her dominance taking the 100 yard breaststroke (1:06.77) and the 200 yard individual medley (2:13.64). Sophomore Sarah-Catherine Dawson (Prospect, Kentucky) was another massive contributor for the Eagles, winning the 200 yard butterfly (2:14.26) and the 100 yard butterfly (1:00.41).

Freshman Reagan Holmes (Henderson, Nevada) turned in another impressive day winning the 500 yard freestyle event (5:25.28).

Other Top Women’s Results
200 Yard Medley Relay: Sophomore Makana Goss (Noblesville, Indiana), Cooper, Dawson, and Shurtz (1:51.30).
100 Yard Backstroke: Goss (1:02.72)
50 Yard Freestyle: Holmes (25.90)
100 Yard Freestyle: Meier (54.86)
200 Yard Breaststroke: Shurtz (2:26.17)
200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Freshman Ella Johnson (Owensboro, Kentucky), Cooper, Holmes, and Meier

Up Next for the Eagles
USI Swimming and Diving returns to campus hosting Rose-Hulman University for senior night at the USI Aquatic Center. The meet will take place next Saturday at 1 p.m.

No. 5/7 Hoosiers Handle No. 17/16 Michigan

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No. 5/7 Hoosiers Handle No. 17/16 Michigan

 

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – No. 5/7 Indiana men’s and women’s swimming and diving improved their perfect dual meet records to 5-0 with wins over the No. 17/16 Michigan Wolverines Friday (Jan. 19) at Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor.

The women’s result came down to the wire as IU trailed going into the 400 freestyle relay. Indiana’s quartet of junior Anna Peplowski, senior Ashley Turak sophomore Kristina Paegle and junior Ella Ristic outpaced Michigan in 3:16.68, to help make the final difference in the 152-148 victory. IU 400 free relay came into the day with a seed time 2.5 seconds slower than Michigan.

“Our women really showed a lot of heart, poise and toughness,” Looze said. “Michigan was ready to go. We knew they would be, and they’re a great team. They threw their best punches at us early in the meet. We really thought we would win the 200 medley, and, when we didn’t, we knew it was going to be tough. There were just a lot of points where we really could have rolled over, and the girls just wouldn’t let it happen.”

IU couldn’t have done it without a dominant diving day, as the Hoosiers swept the springboards. Senior Anne Fowler captured both boards for the women, and Hoosiers took the top four spots on 1-meter and four of the top five positions on 3-meter. Fowler, junior Skyler Liu and freshmen Ella Roselli and Lily Witte all captured NCAA Zone Qualifying marks on each board.

“It was a great day for diving,” assistant diving coach Eric Best said. “We lit it up. Especially the sweep of the girls in that last event put the team over the top. It’s always nice when we can be in that situation and deliver.”

“I’m super proud of the way we finished the meet,” Looze said. “It was remarkable with the divers sweeping the 1-meter, and Anna Freed got a super valuable second place. Reese Tiltmann got a fifth. We didn’t think we’d get much in that (200 IM) at all. And then our relay winning – their seed time was 2.5 seconds better than us, so I guess the girls didn’t remember that when they swam the relay. They just never gave up.

“I just told them it’s really pulling victory out of the jaws of defeat because with so few events remaining, a couple of them not good for us. They scored just enough points and all credit to them.”

Junior Carson Tyler won both the 1-meter and 3-meter to lead the men’s team, setting a personal record 466.35 in a 1-2-3 finish in front of sophomore Dash Glasberg (349.80) and Maxwell Weinrich (322.73). Tyler’s 3-meter is the top mark in NCAA Division-I this season.

“He did well and had a few dives he could have done better,” Best said, “but that was a great list he put together. The real star of the day from the men’s side was probably Dash!”

Tyler was one of six different individual event winners in a 64-point men’s victory. Senior Brendan Burns led the way with three victories, sweeping the backstroke events and winning the 200 butterfly. Fellow senior Jassen Yep swept the breaststroke events, continuing his success during a season in which he holds the nation’s No. 1 time in the 200 (1:50.71) and the No. 4 mark in the 100 (51.49).

“Our guys won in pretty dominant fashion,” Looze said. “I would like to see our depth be a little bit better. There were a few key people we left home, but I wish the guys had a close meet too because the women really needed a close meet like that, and I think the guys do too. I think that’s coming here by the end of the month. It’s always great to come into Ann Arbor and get a couple victories because they’re traditionally one of the best programs in the Big Ten. So, we’re grateful.”

TEAM SCORES

Men

No. 5 Indiana 182, No. 17 Michigan 118

Women

No. 7 Indiana 152, No. 16 Michigan 148

HOOSIER WINNERS

Men

Luke Barr – 200 IM (1:46.62)

Finn Brooks – 200 medley relay (1:25.86)

Brendan Burns – 200 medley relay (1:25.86), 100 backstroke (46.83), 200 backstroke (1:43.99), 200 butterfly (1:44.37)

Tomer Frankel – 200 medley relay (1:25.86), 400 freestyle relay (2:53.92)

Mikkel Lee – 200 medley relay (1:25.86), 100 freestyle (43.52), 400 freestyle relay (2:53.92)

Rafael Miroslaw – 200 freestyle (1:34.60), 400 freestyle relay (2:53.92)

Carson Tyler – 1-meter (383.85), 3-meter (466.35)

Gavin Wight – 400 freestyle relay (2:53.92)

Jassen Yep – 100 breaststroke (53.91), 200 breaststroke (1:58.19)

Women

Brearna Crawford – 100 breaststroke (1:02.16), 200 breaststroke (2:14.91)

Anne Fowler – 1-meter (323.85), 3-meter (353.78)

Ching Hwee Gan – 1,000 freestyle (9:47.37)

Kristina Paegle – 50 freestyle (22.46), 400 freestyle relay (3:16.68)

Anna Peplowski – 200 freestyle (1:45.14), 200 backstroke (1:56.46), 400 freestyle relay (3:16.68)

Ella Ristic – 400 freestyle relay (3:16.68)

Ashley Turak – 400 freestyle relay (3:16.68)

NCAA CUTS

A: None.

B: Brendan Burns – 100 back (46.83), 200 back (1:43.99); 200 fly (1:44.37); Tomer Frankel – 100 fly (46.89); Rafael Miroslaw – 200 free (1:34.60); Kristina Paegle – 50 free (22.46), 100 free (48.96); Anna Peplowski – 200 free (1:45.14), 200 back (1:56.46); Ashley Turak – 50 free (22.65)

 

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – No. 5/7 Indiana men’s and women’s swimming and diving improved their perfect dual meet records to 5-0 with wins over the No. 17/16 Michigan Wolverines Friday (Jan. 19) at Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor.

The women’s result came down to the wire as IU trailed going into the 400 freestyle relay. Indiana’s quartet of junior Anna Peplowski, senior Ashley Turak sophomore Kristina Paegle and junior Ella Ristic outpaced Michigan in 3:16.68, to help make the final difference in the 152-148 victory. IU 400 free relay came into the day with a seed time 2.5 seconds slower than Michigan.

“Our women really showed a lot of heart, poise and toughness,” Looze said. “Michigan was ready to go. We knew they would be, and they’re a great team. They threw their best punches at us early in the meet. We really thought we would win the 200 medley, and, when we didn’t, we knew it was going to be tough. There were just a lot of points where we really could have rolled over, and the girls just wouldn’t let it happen.”

IU couldn’t have done it without a dominant diving day, as the Hoosiers swept the springboards. Senior Anne Fowler captured both boards for the women, and Hoosiers took the top four spots on 1-meter and four of the top five positions on 3-meter. Fowler, junior Skyler Liu and freshmen Ella Roselli and Lily Witte all captured NCAA Zone Qualifying marks on each board.

“It was a great day for diving,” assistant diving coach Eric Best said. “We lit it up. Especially the sweep of the girls in that last event put the team over the top. It’s always nice when we can be in that situation and deliver.”

“I’m super proud of the way we finished the meet,” Looze said. “It was remarkable with the divers sweeping the 1-meter, and Anna Freed got a super valuable second place. Reese Tiltmann got a fifth. We didn’t think we’d get much in that (200 IM) at all. And then our relay winning – their seed time was 2.5 seconds better than us, so I guess the girls didn’t remember that when they swam the relay. They just never gave up.

“I just told them it’s really pulling victory out of the jaws of defeat because with so few events remaining, a couple of them not good for us. They scored just enough points and all credit to them.”

Junior Carson Tyler won both the 1-meter and 3-meter to lead the men’s team, setting a personal record 466.35 in a 1-2-3 finish in front of sophomore Dash Glasberg (349.80) and Maxwell Weinrich (322.73). Tyler’s 3-meter is the top mark in NCAA Division-I this season.

“He did well and had a few dives he could have done better,” Best said, “but that was a great list he put together. The real star of the day from the men’s side was probably Dash!”

Tyler was one of six different individual event winners in a 64-point men’s victory. Senior Brendan Burns led the way with three victories, sweeping the backstroke events and winning the 200 butterfly. Fellow senior Jassen Yep swept the breaststroke events, continuing his success during a season in which he holds the nation’s No. 1 time in the 200 (1:50.71) and the No. 4 mark in the 100 (51.49).

“Our guys won in pretty dominant fashion,” Looze said. “I would like to see our depth be a little bit better. There were a few key people we left home, but I wish the guys had a close meet too because the women really needed a close meet like that, and I think the guys do too. I think that’s coming here by the end of the month. It’s always great to come into Ann Arbor and get a couple victories because they’re traditionally one of the best programs in the Big Ten. So, we’re grateful.”

TEAM SCORES

Men

No. 5 Indiana 182, No. 17 Michigan 118

Women

No. 7 Indiana 152, No. 16 Michigan 148

HOOSIER WINNERS

Men

Luke Barr – 200 IM (1:46.62)

Finn Brooks – 200 medley relay (1:25.86)

Brendan Burns – 200 medley relay (1:25.86), 100 backstroke (46.83), 200 backstroke (1:43.99), 200 butterfly (1:44.37)

Tomer Frankel – 200 medley relay (1:25.86), 400 freestyle relay (2:53.92)

Mikkel Lee – 200 medley relay (1:25.86), 100 freestyle (43.52), 400 freestyle relay (2:53.92)

Rafael Miroslaw – 200 freestyle (1:34.60), 400 freestyle relay (2:53.92)

Carson Tyler – 1-meter (383.85), 3-meter (466.35)

Gavin Wight – 400 freestyle relay (2:53.92)

Jassen Yep – 100 breaststroke (53.91), 200 breaststroke (1:58.19)

Women

Brearna Crawford – 100 breaststroke (1:02.16), 200 breaststroke (2:14.91)

Anne Fowler – 1-meter (323.85), 3-meter (353.78)

Ching Hwee Gan – 1,000 freestyle (9:47.37)

Kristina Paegle – 50 freestyle (22.46), 400 freestyle relay (3:16.68)

Anna Peplowski – 200 freestyle (1:45.14), 200 backstroke (1:56.46), 400 freestyle relay (3:16.68)

Ella Ristic – 400 freestyle relay (3:16.68)

Ashley Turak – 400 freestyle relay (3:16.68)

NCAA CUTS

A: None.

B: Brendan Burns – 100 back (46.83), 200 back (1:43.99); 200 fly (1:44.37); Tomer Frankel – 100 fly (46.89); Rafael Miroslaw – 200 free (1:34.60); Kristina Paegle – 50 free (22.46), 100 free (48.96); Anna Peplowski – 200 free (1:45.14), 200 back (1:56.46); Ashley Turak – 50 free (22.65)

NCAA ZONE QUALIFYING SCORES

1-meter: Anne Fowler (323.85), Skyler Liu (303.00), Ella Roselli (306.75), Carson Tyler (383.85), Lily Witte (292.88)

3-meter: Anne Fowler (353.78), Dash Glasberg (349.80), Skyler Liu (342.75), Ella Roselli (327.53), Carson Tyler (466.35), Maxwell Weinrich (322.73), Lily Witte (323.33)

1-meter: Anne Fowler (323.85), Skyler Liu (303.00), Ella Roselli (306.75), Carson Tyler (383.85), Lily Witte (292.88)

3-meter: Anne Fowler (353.78), Dash Glasberg (349.80), Skyler Liu (342.75), Ella Roselli (327.53), Carson Tyler (466.35), Maxwell Weinrich (322.73), Lily Witte (323.33)

USI Women’s Tennis predicted to finish seventh in conference play Eagles begin season against Cincinnati tomorrow

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Ohio Valley Conference announced Friday afternoon that University of Southern Indiana Women’s Tennis was voted to finish seventh in the OVC preseason poll. The Screaming Eagles, who are in their second season of NCAA Division I, will take on the University of Cincinnati Saturday at 5:30 p.m. for the first match of the 2024 season.

Leading the voting was Southeast Missouri State University who received five first-place votes while Southern Illinois University Edwardsville followed behind with two nods for first place. Following the Redhawks and Cougars in voting was Eastern Illinois University, Tennessee State University, Western Illinois University, Lindenwood University, and USI, respectively. Last season, SEMO took the crown after defeating SIUE, 4-2, in the championship match.

USI will face 20 different opponents in 2024 with nine home, nine road, and two neutral matches. Home matches will be split between the Evansville Tennis Center and USI Tennis Courts throughout the season.

The Eagles’ non-conference slate features Thomas More University (February 3), University of Dayton (February 4), Eastern Kentucky University (March 8), University of Missouri-St. Louis (March 10), and Bradley University (March 17). USI will welcome Western Kentucky University (February 10), Saint Louis University (February 11), Austin Peay State University (February 17), Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (March 1), and Kentucky Wesleyan College (March 25) for non-conference home matches. The Hanover College (April 14) and Indiana University Southeast (April 14) matches will play at Jeffersonville High School in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

In OVC play, USI will look to bounce back with home matches against Eastern Illinois (March 16), SIUE (April 7), and Tennessee State (April 13). The Eagles hit the road for an OVC showdown with Lindenwood (March 24), Western Illinois (March 30), and SEMO (April 5).

The 2024 OVC Women’s Tennis Championship will be held April 19-21 at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in St. Louis, Missouri with only the top six teams in the conference make the tournament.

Aces track and field travels up I-69 to Indiana Invitational

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The Purple Aces prepare for their second meet of 2024 after a splash in the Music City
 

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — After a successful first meet of the season, the University of Evansville track and field team looks to improve over the weekend.

The Purple Aces broke a total of eleven program records at their first indoor meet of the 2024 season in Nashville. At the Commodore Challenge, UE in the first day had six runners break indoor program records and five team members set personal bests. All six of Evansville’s new records came during nonchampionship track events with an even split between the men’s and women’s events.

Program records were set by Nicole Prauchner (Neuhofen an der Ybbs, Austria BORGL St.Pölten) in the women’s 1000-meter, Rafael Rodriguez (Segovia, Spain Colegio Claret) in the men’s 1000-meter, Eline Brenne (Skien, Norway Telemark Toppidrett Gymnas) in the women’s 600-meter, Jakub Nowicki (Poznan, Poland) in the men’s 600-meter, Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind., Reitz HS) in the women’s 300-meter, and Raymond Felton III (Houston, Clear Brook HS) in the men’s 300-meter.

The final day of the Commodore Challenge runners Taylor Johnson (Evansville, Ind. / Reitz HS) and Nicole Prauchner (Neuhofen an der Ybbs, Austria BORGL St.Pölten) added two more individual records in the 400 and 800-meter races. While Samuel Lea (Worchester, England / Worchester Sixth Form College) set a record in the 3000 meters with a time of 8:31.79.

Evansville also ended the weekend with two more program records in both the women’s and men’s 4×400 meter relays. The women’s team of Johnson, Prauchner, Eilen Brenne (Skien, Norway / Telemark Toppidrett Gymnas), and Nayla Martin (Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, Canada) broke the former record by over seven seconds at 4:03.37. While the men’s team of Austin Liversgowdy (Florence, Ky. / Cooper HS), Raymond Felton III (Houston, Clear Brook HS), Jose Ocampo (Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico), and Alvaro Monfort (Castile Y Leon, Spain / I.E.S. Alonso de Madrigal) shaved a second off the record from 2020 at 3:27.67.

This weekend, UE will spend two days in Bloomington at the Indiana Invitational hosted by the Indiana Hoosiers. The Aces will see some familiar faces in their second meet of the indoor season in fellow MVC competitors Indiana State and Southern Illinois. Six other teams are also participating in the weekend’s invitational in hosts IU, Cincinnati, Dayton, Marshall, Miami (Ohio), and Division III DePauw. The weekend will begin with field events at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon until sprints wrapping up just before 9 p.m. On Saturday, competition begins at 9 a.m. with the final ev

USI Track & Field laces up for indoor season Eagles take on Bellarmine Open

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Track & Field begins the 2024 indoor campaign Friday at the Bellarmine Open in Louisville, Kentucky. The Screaming Eagles look to continue its success in their second year in NCAA Division I and Ohio Valley Conference.
 
USI will travel to nine meets this season including the OVC Indoor Championships at the Birmingham Crossplex in Birmingham, Alabama February 21-22. Last season, the Eagles had a pair of first-place finishes including five podium awards in their first-ever OVC Indoor Championships.
 
Making a return for the women is junior Audrey Comastri (Indianapolis, Indiana) who scored four top 10 finishes at the championships last season including second place finishes in both the 800 meters and the distance medley relay. Comastri took home first place in the 400 meters at the ISU Open with a personal-best time of one minute flat in 2023.
 
For the men, senior Mitchell Hopf (Santa Claus, Indiana) will lead the pack this season for USI after earning two top-five finishes at last year’s OVC Championship in the 3,000 meters and the 5,000 meters. in 2023, Hopf was able to collect a pair of personal bests in the 3,000 meters and mile with two top 10 finishes for the Eagles.
 
USI Head Coach Mike Hillyard returns for his 27th season at the helm. Last season, Hillyard led his squads to a pair of sixth-place conference finishes in the indoor season.

   U E OPENS IOWA TRIP ON SATURDAY AT DRAKES

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UE opens Iowa trip on Saturday at Drake

Aces set for 2-game swing in Iowa

 

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Back-to-back road games in Iowa are on the docket for the University of Evansville men’s basketball team beginning on Saturday when UE faces Drake in Des Moines.  Tip is set for 5 p.m. CT with ESPN+ and the Purple Aces Radio Network having the coverage.

 

Last Time Out

– Finishing the night shooting 50.9%, the Purple Aces earned a 78-75 victory against Valparaiso on Wednesday

– Four players reached double figures with Yacine Toumi and Chuck Bailey III scoring 13 apiece

– Kenny Strawbridge Jr. registered 11 points while Antonio Thomas scored 10

– Cam Haffner scored 5 points and had 3 assists; all five tallies came in a run that saw UE take a game-high 9-point lead in the second half

 

He’s Back

– After missing five games, Ben Humrichous made his return to the floor on Wednesday against the Beacons

– He saw just under 12 minutes of playing time and scored seven points

– Humrichous continues to rank among the top players in the MVC in multiple stats including: 3-point FG% (T-1 | 48.4%), blocks (4th | 1.31/gm), FG% (6th | 55.4%), 3-pt made (7th | 2.38/gm), 3- scoring (10th | 15.6 PPG)

 

Clutch Shots

– An efficient 5-for-7 shooting performance saw Chuck Bailey III record 13 points in the win over Valpo

– Twelve of those points came in the second half as two late triples put UE in front

– Bailey missed the game at Cincinnati and struggled in the ensuing two games before erupting for 18 against the Braves; he connected on 10 of his 13 free throw tries, both career highs

– He is third on the squad with a season average of 10.1 points per contest

 

Stat Sheet Consistency

– Yacine Toumi has been averaging close to a double-double over the last seven games, posting 11.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game over that time

– Toumi has record double figures in scoring in eight of the last 10 games

– He posted a career-best 12 boards versus Missouri State and is 8th in the MVC with a season mark of 6.8

– Toumi has averaged 12.3 points over the last 10 games (123 total pts) and recorded double-doubles against Tennessee Tech and Indiana State

 

Scouting the Opponent

– Drake paces the MVC with a 15-3 mark and a 6-1 start to league play

– The Bulldogs dealt Indiana State their lone conference loss on Jan. 10 and are coming off back-to-back road wins at Southern Illinois and Illinois State

– Tucker DeVries paces four double figure scorers for the Bulldogs with 20.6 points per game

– He is a 46.0% shooter from the field and has chipped in an average of 6.1 boards

– Atin Wright and Kevin Overton check in with averages of 14.7 and 12.4 PPG, respectively

– Darnell Brodie is averaging 10.9 points and a team-best 8.3 caroms

 

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