Tournament set for Saturday and Sunday

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Last season saw a stellar improvement for the University of Evansville men’s golf team and the future continues to look bright as the Purple Aces are set to open the 2023-24 campaign this weekend at the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational.

Hosted by Ball State, the tournament consists of 36 holes on Saturday and 18 on Sunday.  Both rounds are slated for a 9 a.m. ET start.  Delaware Country Club in Muncie will host the event.

Joining the Aces in the tournament field will be Ball State, Butler, Bowling Green, DePaul, Detroit, Earlham, Oakland, USI and IUPUI.  Individuals from Indiana, Purdue and Cincinnati will also be participating.

Senior Nicholas Gushrowski paced UE last season with a 74.08 stroke average, which was 15^th in the Missouri Valley Conference.  The MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team member show a season-low 69 in the opening round of the conference championship before coming home in 11^th place.

Fellow senior Carson Parker was second on the squad with a 74.25 average.  He got better as the season went along, culminating in one of the best rounds in school history.  In the second round of the MVC Championship, he carded a 67, which was tied for the 4^th-lowest score in school history.

Michael Ikejiani, who recorded a 74.43 stroke average last season, was named the MVC Men’s Golfer of the Week on November 3, 2022.  That came on the heels of a final-round score of 67 at the Alabama A&M Fall Invite.  The score was tied for the 4^th-lowest in program history.  Ikejiani would go on to match that score in the third round of the TSU Big Blue Intercollegiate in the spring.

USI defeats UAPB & Jax State, 3-0

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Volleyball (4-5) put on a show at Screaming Eagles Arena Friday as the Screaming Eagles took down the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-7), 3-0 (25-18, 25-8, 25-11), before taking care of Jacksonville State University (1-7), 3-0 (27-25, 25-20, 25-22), to open the USI Invitational. USI is on a three-game winning streak and is 2-0 at home. All four tournament matches went 3-0.

USI vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
An evenly-matched contest goes in favor of the Eagles to win the opening set, 25-18. USI kicked off the frame with three straight points with the help of a kill from senior outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and a service ace from senior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois). The Golden Lions pushed back and took a 6-5 lead before the Eagles returned with a 5-1 stint to take a three-point advantage. Leah Anderson threw down a pair of kills while sophomore middle hitter Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois) knocked down a kill of her own. Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) earned her first of four aces to cap off the Eagles’ run. With UAPB making a strong effort and cutting the deficit to just one, USI would score seven of the next nine points to take a 22-16 lead. The Eagles earned three aces during the surge with two coming from junior outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana). USI took advantage of three attacking errors from the Lions to seal the victory. Both squads knocked down 11 kills and 6 errors apiece.
 
USI used a strong offensive attack to roll past UAPB in the second game, 25-8. The Lions put up a fight early before a 4-0 run from the Eagles made it a 10-4 game. Bednar nabbed a kill, ace, and assist during the stint. Up 11-7, USI went on an immaculate 9-0 run to nearly triple-up UAPB, 20-7. The Eagles had seven kills during the stint with five different players earning a kill. USI capped off the frame with a strong 5-0 finish off back-to-back kills from Bednar and junior middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana). It was a lopsided affair in the kills column with USI earning a match-high 16 kills in comparison to UAPB’s two kills. The Eagles minimized their errors, totaling just three, and had a staggering attacking percentage of 0.433. USI’s defense forced more Lions’ errors than kills, leading to a negative 0.074 attacking percentage.
 
Big runs from the Eagles seal the Lions’ fate and secure the 3-0 match sweep in a 25-11 final-set victory. UAPB kept it close to start until a 5-0 surge from USI pushed the Eagles past the Lions, 10-4. Leah Anderson nabbed two kills while Moore served up a pair of aces. Despite stopping that run, UAPB witnessed USI score three more to make it 13-5. After holding a 15-8 advantage, the Eagles went on another big run, this time 8-0. It started with repeating kills from Bianca Anderson and Bednar before Bednar tacked on two aces. The impressive USI stint was too much to come back from as UAPB dropped its seventh match of the season. The Eagles threw down 13 kills compared to the Lions’ eight kills. USI had their best attacking percentage of the match, posting a 0.458.
 
Both Bednar and Moore secured career-highs in aces with four apiece. Moore also had a match-high 12 digs in the win. Leah Anderson posted 11 kills with Bednar and Downing securing nine each. Downing also had a team-leading three blocks while junior setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana) recorded a match-high 34 assists. Weber also recorded double-digit digs, earning 10.
 
The Eagles outperformed the Lions in all categories, especially in aces as USI had 13 aces while UAPB had zero. The Eagles had 40 kills and 38 assists with four blocks and 39 digs. The Lions totaled 21 kills and 20 assists with 28 digs and four blocks. USI posted a season-high 0.326 attacking percentage and a season-low 11 errors off a season-low 89 total attacks. This was the Eagles’ second straight match of 40 or more kills and the fourth 40+ kill match of the season.
 
USI vs. Jacksonville State
Despite a late rally from the Gamecocks, the Eagles came up with a 27-25 win in the opening frame. USI came out of the gates on fire after a 7-3 start thanks to six offensive miscues by Jax State. The Gamecocks returned fire with a 6-2 stint which led to back-and-forth play and ending up with a 15-14 advantage for Jax State. USI bounced back with a 3-0 run off three errors from the Gamecocks. Both sides swapped points until a 5-0 surge from Jax State put them up, 22-19 late in the game. The Eagles were able to retaliate and tie the set at 22 apiece off three kills, two from senior outside/right side hitter Abby Bednar (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) and a single kill from sophomore middle hitter Bianca Anderson (Chicago Heights, Illinois). USI was able to close it out by scoring four of the final five points off a pair of kills from Bednar and junior setter Carly Sobieralski (Indianapolis, Indiana). Despite getting outhit in the set, the Eagles posted fewer errors and a higher attacking percentage.
 
USI cruised to a 25-20 second-set victory against Jax State to take a 2-0 match lead. The frame started off with two kills from Bednar and an ace from senior outside hitter Leah Anderson (Bloomington, Illinois). The Eagles continued to build their lead and reached a 12-7 advantage until a quick 3-0 stint from the Gamecocks forced their hand. However, USI recovered and scored five of the next six points to take a 17-11 lead. Both sides posted 3-0 runs until Jax State scored four of the final six points to cut the USI lead to just four. Bednar nabbed her fifth kill of the set to seal the victory. It was an even attacking game from both teams as USI finished the frame with 12 kills in comparison to Jax State’s 10 kills.
 
A couple of big runs from the Eagles sent the Gamecocks packing, 25-22. Tied at 11, USI stormed out and put up five straight points. Leah Anderson put up an ace while Bednar and junior outside hitter Abby Weber (Fishers, Indiana) contributed with three combined kills. USI was able to put up another run, this one a 3-0 surge off a pair of aces from sophomore libero/defensive specialist Keira Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) to take a 19-12 lead. Jax State put USI on their heels after posting seven of the next 10 points to cut the deficit to three. The Eagles went unphased and took care of the Gamecocks with the help of a kill from Sobieralski and Leah Anderson.
 
Bednar was electric for USI, contributing 13 kills and three blocks. Moore nabbed a team-high three aces with 10 digs while junior middle hitter Paris Downing (Avon, Indiana) totaled five blocks. Sobieralski took control of the passing game, earning 22 assists and making it nine straight matches of 20 or more kills this season. Weber was the lead defender off the attack and serve, securing 13 digs.
 
As a team, the Eagles had 36 kills, 31 assists, and six aces along with 46 digs and nine blocks. The Gamecocks totaled 36 kills, 33 assists, and six aces to pair with 43 digs and six blocks. Jax State finished the opening day of the tournament 0-2 after falling to Bradley University earlier in the day.
 
NEXT UP FOR THE EAGLES:
The Eagles close out the USI Invitational tomorrow afternoon when USI hosts Bradley at 3 p.m. The Braves also went 2-0 on Friday after defeating Jax State and UAPB, 3-0. This will be the first meeting between the two programs.

Aces fall to St. Thomas before defeating Northern Illinois

CHICAGO – Giulia Cardona recorded a match-high 24 kills while Madisyn Steele added a season-high of 10 kills as the University of Evansville volleyball team defeated Northern Illinois to split the opening day of the DePaul Invitational.

Along with the duo of Cardona and Steele, Melanie Feliciano completed the 3-1 win over NIU with 16 kills.  In Friday’s opener, St. Thomas won by a final of 3-0.  On Saturday, the Aces completed the weekend with a 5 p.m. game versus DePaul.

MATCH #1 – St. Thomas 3, UE 0

Melanie Feliciano and Giulia Cardona recorded 11 kills apiece in a 3-0 loss to St. Thomas on Friday morning.  Ainoah Cruz picked up 20 digs while Brooke Springer had 40 blocks.  Kora Ruff totaled 28 assists and three aces.  Megan Wetter finished with a match-high 12 kills.

Game 1 – St. Thomas 25, UE 22

St. Thomas set the early tone, going on a 5-2 run.  Cardona brought the Aces back into it with two of her four service aces in the match to knot the score at 6-6.  After UST took an 8-6 lead, Evansville countered with five in a row.  Blakeley Freeman opened a 5-0 stretch with a kill as the Aces jumped in front by an 11-8 margin.

After the Tommies forced multiple ties, including a 16-16 score, another ace and kill from Cardona along with two Emilee Scheumann kills comprised a 4-0 run as the Aces looked to be in control.  Unfortunately, St. Thomas had other ideas, scoring the next seven points on their way to a 25-22 victory.

Game 2 – St. Thomas 25, UE 18

Kora Ruff opened the second set with consecutive service aces to give her squad the early lead.  After St. Thomas tied the score, Madisyn Steele and Luana Gazda Kuhn picked up kills to give Evansville its largest lead at 10-7.

Just as they did in the first set, the Tommies stormed back as they reeled off five in a row to jump back in front – 12-10.  Evansville cut the deficit to one point (14-13) before St. Thomas put forth another big run to finish off the set.  Outscoring the Aces by an 11-5 margin, UST took the second set, 25-18.

Game 3 – St. Thomas 27, UE 25

Looking to extend the match, the Aces kept the pressure on for the duration of the third set.  St. Thomas went up by a 9-7 score at the start before UE fought back, scoring four of the next five points to take an 11-10 edge.

After the Tommies matched their largest lead of three points (15-12), Evansville responded to tie the score at 17-17 before retaking the lead at 24-23.  The Aces had another chance to win the set, holding a 25-24 lead, but St. Thomas scored the final three points to clinch the match.

MATCH #2 – UE 3, NIU 1

Performances up and down the roster helped the Purple Aces defeat Northern Illinois by a 3-1 final in Friday’s finale.  Led by Cardona’s 24 kills, the Aces rebounded following a morning defeat to St. Thomas.  Feliciano and Steele tallied 16 and 10 kills, respectively.  Kora Ruff wrapped up the contest with 54 assists while Feliciano paced the defense with 16 digs.

Brooke Springer put forth another strong performance with five block assists.  Leading the Huskies was Emily Dykes who had 14 kills.

Game 1 – UE 25, NIU 22

Six kills from Melanie Feliciano saw the Purple Aces fend off the Huskies for a 25-22 win.  Northern Illinois turned a 4-4 tie into a 15-11 lead as they looked to open with a win.  Giulia Cardona had other ideas, notching two kills and an ace to tie the game at 15-15.

With the score still tied up at 22-22, Madisyn Steele came through with a pair of clutch kills in the final three points to give UE the win.

Game 2 – UE 25, NIU 20

Service aces from Feliciano and Ainoah Cruz put UE in front by a 5-2 score to open the second set.  Northern Illinois made their way back, eventually taking a 14-13 edge.  At that point, Steele came through once again with three kills in the next four points as UE went on an 8-1 run to take their largest lead at 22-15.

After NIU cut the gap to three points, Evansville got back on track as two late kills from Cardona sealed the 25-20 decision.

Game 3 – NIU 25, UE 22

Early in the set, things remained close as the score was tied up at 10-10.  That is when the Huskies made their run, scoring five in a row.  Their lead would reach as many as six tallies before the Aces attempted a comeback.

Feliciano compiled two more kills as UE cut the deficit to a single point at 23-22.  NIU was able to halt Evansville’s momentum, scoring the final two points to take the 25-22 decision and force a fourth set.

Game 4 – UE 25, NIU 22

For the second time in as many matches on Friday, Kora Ruff opened a set with consecutive aces as UE jumped out of the gate to take a 6-2 advantage.  The Aces pushed the lead to five points when a Steele kill extended the lead to 11-6.  Northern Illinois rallied back with a 9-2 run to take their first lead of the set at 15-13.

The teams battled it out over the next sequence before Evansville scored two in a row to break a 19-19 tie before Cardona had the match-winner.  Her 24^th kill of the evening solidified a 25-22 win in the set and a 3-1 triumph in the match.