Live Stats vs. IUPUI (Fri. 3:30 p.m.)
Live Stats vs. Bowling Green (Sat. 9:00 a.m.)
Live Stats vs. MSU (Sat. 6:00 p.m)
The University of Evansville volleyball season will start Friday afternoon at 3:30 when the Aces take on IUPUI in the opening game of the Michigan State Tournament, in East Lansing, Mich.
“We’re coming off a very productive preseason,” said head coach Mike Swan. “As a team, we seem to be a lot further along than in years past. We’re just anxious to get the season started.”
The Aces are led by a group of five starters, with eight total letterwinners. Senior Emily Wandersee and junior Brooke Maher each tallied over 300 kills last year. Juniors Ellen Sawin and April Lubrecht return after starting in all 30 matches in 2009. The roster also features four newcomers in Jenn Murphy, Katie Klages, Caitlin Wickes and Rachel TenHoor.
IUPUI is coming off its best season in the program’s history, posting a 20-10 record in 2009. The Jaguars were picked to finish sixth in the Summit League Preseason Poll. Returning three starters from last year, IUPUI will be led by juniors Kalyse Reimbold and Shari Bernhart. Reimbold led the Jaguars with 386 kills in 2009 while Bernhart’s 4.81 digs per set ranked 49th in the country.
The match against IUPUI marks the first of three at the tournament. UE is also slated to play Bowling Green and host Michigan State on Saturday, at 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Bowling Green returns only two starters after finishing 13-20 for the 2009 season. Picked to finish fifth in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference, the Falcons’ roster includes 11 underclassmen, making it the youngest squad in program history.
Host Michigan State was tabbed sixth in the Big Ten preseason poll. Junior Kyndra Abron was selected to the preseason All-Big Ten Team after ending the 2009 season with 267 kills and 71 total blocks. The Spartans return 13 letterwinners while bringing in two newcomers.
