Aces Look To Build On Success Of Last Season
 Following a successful 2017 campaign that saw the University of Evansville volleyball team double its win total from 2016, the Purple Aces look to build on that success as they prepare for the upcoming season.
“UE Volleyball is looking forward to the challenging schedule that we have this year. We have designed a progressive load that will lead us to a very tough and improved MVC,†UE head coach Manolo Concepcion said. “Our non-conference schedule is highlighted by four Power 5 games that include home matches against teams like OVC Champion Austin Peay, and for the second year in a row, Big Ten state rival Indiana University (which previously to last year, it had never happened before).â€
“Then, to have the opportunity to play not one, but two, possibly top 25 teams like Ohio State and Dayton, will prepare us to compete against the higher ranked teams in our conference,†he added. “Our goal is to provide our roster with the highest level of play, recognizing that our conference continues to be one of the best in the nation.â€
Opening the year for the Aces is a trip to Macomb, Ill. for the Leatherneck Invitational on August 24-25. Last year, Evansville also opened the year at the tournament and went a perfect 3-0 on its way to the championship. This year’s field includes host Western Illinois, Fairleigh Dickinson and Tennessee Tech.
Home play begins on Tuesday, August 28 with Southeast Missouri State coming to Meeks Family Fieldhouse. The Redhawks earned a 3-2 win over UE last year after the Aces won a 3-2 decision in 2016.
Following the home opener, UE travels to Elon, N.C. for the Phoenix Classic. Taking place on August 31 and September 1, the event features Elon, Gardner-Webb and North Carolina Central. The host Phoenix posted a 16-16 mark in 2016.
Another big home match is on tap Sept. 4 as UE welcomes Indiana University. It marks the third season in a row that the schools have met and the second consecutive home meeting for UE. Last year, the Hoosiers and Aces squared off in the Meeks Family Fieldhouse grand opening. Four days later, the annual Dunn Hospitality Tournament will take place at Austin Peay and Northern Kentucky come to town. The Governors had a strong campaign as they were 30-6 on their way to the Ohio Valley Conference Championship in 2017. They earned the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament where they played at UCLA in the opening round.
A 4-match homestand comes to an end on Sept. 11 when UE faces Tennessee State. Non-conference play wraps up on Sept. 14-15 when UE heads to Dayton, Ohio to take part in the Flyer Invitational. A stacked field features host Dayton along with Ohio State and Tennessee. Dayton was 23-8 last season and a strong 30-2 in 2016. As part of that season, the Flyers earned the 2016 Dunn Hospitality Invitational championship. OSU is coming off of a 15-16 record last year while the Volunteers were 12-15 in 2017. Evansville took on Tennessee in a home-and-home series in 2014 and 15.
Missouri Valley Conference action commences on Friday, Sept. 21 with a home weekend against Loyola and Valparaiso. Loyola is coming off of a 5-24 record while Valpo enjoyed a 17-16 mark in the inaugural season in the MVC. The first conference road tilt is set for Monday, Sept. 24 with a trip to Des Moines, Iowa to take on Drake. The Bulldogs are coming off of a 23-10 season that saw them go 12-6 in the league.
That weekend, UE heads to central Illinois for road matches at Illinois State and Bradley. The Redbirds went 22-13 and 13-5 in conference play to earn a berth in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship where they topped IUPUI in the opening round. The Braves were 10-22 overall and 3-15 in the league in 2016.
UE is back home on Oct. 5-6 for contests against Southern Illinois and Missouri State. SIU was 6-23 last year while the Bears posted a 28-6 overall mark and a perfect 18-0 league record. The Bears won the conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Another tough match is on tap on Oct. 8 as UE heads to Cedar Falls, Iowa to take on UNI. The Panthers were 27-9 in 2017 while going 15-3 in conference play. They earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where the beat Louisville in the first round. The first half of conference play wraps up with a home match against Indiana State (11-21, 8-10 MVC in 2017) on Saturday, Oct. 13.
It is back to the road on the 19th and 20th with contests at Valparaiso and Loyola before the month of October is completed with tilts against Bradley and Illinois State on the 26th and 27th. November begins with three road matches starting with a weekend at Missouri State and SIU on Nov. 2 and 3.  The final road matchup takes place in Terre Haute when the Aces face the Sycamores on Friday, Nov. 9.
