Aces host three MVC matches
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Looking to make a major statement, the University of Evansville volleyball team welcomes two of the top teams in the Missouri Valley Conference this weekend with Northern Iowa and Drake heading to Meeks Family Fieldhouse. The Purple Aces are set for three matches in four nights as they face the Panthers on Friday and the Bulldogs on Saturday before playing host to Indiana State on Monday. ESPN+ will have the coverage of the Northern Iowa and Indiana State contests.
Last Time Out
– Three-point losses in the second and third sets saw the Aces drop a 3-0 match last Saturday at Missouri State
– Melanie Feliciano and Giulia Cardona registered 13 kills apiece and each posted a double-double with 13 and 11 digs, respectively
– Ainoah Cruz paced the defense with 17 digs while Kora Ruff added 32 assists
She’s #1
– Giulia Cardona finished the first conference weekend with an unreal average of 8.86 kills per set and has continued to add to her numbers since that time
– After finishing with 26 at Murray State, Cardona reset her career-high with 36 at Belmont on Saturday
– Her 36 kills was the most in the NCAA in a 4-set match this season and tied for the highest tally in any match of the 2023 season while her 26-kill performance against the Racers was the most this season by any NCAA player in a 3-set contest
Double Figures
– Melanie Feliciano had her top MVC contest of the season at Missouri State, recording 13 kills along with 11 digs
– She continues to rank in the top 20 in the Valley in both stats, standing 11th with 3.26 kills/set and 18th with 2.74 digs/game
– She put together her best weekend of the season at the DePaul Invitational, setting her season high with 22 kills and has at least 9 kills in 12 of Evansville’s 15 matches
– Defensively, Feliciano has chipped in 11 digs in 7 of the last 11 matches
Making Her Mark
– As the season has progressed, freshman Luana Gazda Kuhn has seen her numbers improve as she navigates her first collegiate season
– Her defense has been stellar through four Valley matches as she has contributed 2.33 digs/set, up from her season tally of 1.74
– On the offensive side, she set her season high with 9 kills at Southern Illinois
Scouting the Opposition
– Northern Iowa enters Friday’s match with a 10-6 mark while winning their first four MVC contests
– Kira Fallert (3.44/set) and Emily Holterhaus (3.33/set) rank 5th and 8th, respectively, in the MVC with their kill averages
– Drake opens the weekend with a 10-6 overall record and are 3-1 in Valley action
– The Bulldogs are led by Taylor Oberpriller, whose 4.00 kills per game is third in the conference
