With the 2009 season approaching in three days, the University of Evansville volleyball team introduced itself to the media at the team’s annual Media Day.
The Purple Aces open the season Friday, August 28 at 7 p.m. in Memphis for the Tigers’ home tournament. UE opens Saturday at 10 a.m. versus Arkansas State followed by Southeast Missouri State at 5 p.m.
Evansville will not play in front of a Carson Center crowd until its home opener on September 14 against Tennessee-Martin at 7 p.m.
Here are a few notes from today’s Media Day:
Top Returners
Evansville returns nine letterwinners from the 2008 team, including five starters. Senior Ginta Gabruseva was named to the all-tournament team at the 2008 State Farm MVC Tournament and led the team with 26 service aces. Sophomore Brooke Maher had 278 kills on 1,033 attempts last season while being named Freshman of the Week during the year. Setter Ellen Sawin will help get the offense started, as the all-conference team member had 622 assists for the Aces. Libero Julie Sylvester anchors the defensive back row while junior Emily Wandersee returns after leading the team in block assists, block solos and total blocks.
Top 10 Watch
After ranking third in the single-season digs list with 561 digs in 2008, junior Julie Sylvester is on pace to break into the top 10 for career digs. During her two years at UE, Sylvester has accumulated 728 digs, which leaves the Carmel native 95 digs from the list.
Newcomers
UE welcomes a trio of freshmen to the 2009 squad: Jessica Knackmuhs, Maia Miller and Hannah Wilson. Knackmuhs, from Albion, Illinois, led Edwards County to three conference championships and earned all-conference honors in 2007 and 2008. Miller joins the team from Honolulu, Hawaii, and brings experience at the defensive specialist position after playing on elite club teams. Wilson, a native of Granite City, Illinois, led St. Joseph’s Academy to three state tournament trips and recorded 20 kills in the state quarterfinals against Lafayette.
Head Coach Mike Swan
Mike Swan is in his seventh season with the Purple Aces, the second-longest tenure at one school in his career. Since his first season in 2003, Swan has produced 70 wins and played in two State Farm MVC Tournaments. Swan has also coached three all-conference, two all-freshman, five academic all-conference and an ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-American selections. In his collegiate career, Swan has collected 472 victories.
Assistant Coaches
Joining Swan this season on the coaching staff is Tom Mendoza and Rose Obunaga. Mendoza comes to UE after spending the last two seasons at Michigan State as a volunteer assistant. The Buffalo Grove, Illinois, native works with the setters and outsides along with primary passers. Obunaga serves the role as graduate assistant for the Aces and assists in a variety of areas, including team and individual skill sessions, practice planning and game preparation. Obunaga has served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Columbia College, and as a club coach. She also played on the Kenya National Team in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.
Preseason Poll
Evansville has been picked to finish sixth this upcoming season in the Missouri Valley Conference coaches’ preseason poll. Defending MVC regular season champ Wichita State was chosen as the league frontrunner. Missouri State and Northern Iowa followed in second and third, respectively.
