EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Evansville looks to put an end to a 4-match losing streak as the Purple Aces volleyball team travels to Loyola and Bradley for a pair of matches this weekend.
 
The trip starts with a trek to Chicago to play the Ramblers on Friday evening before UE heads to Peoria on Saturday night.  Both matches are slated to begin at 7 p.m.
 
Senior Meaghan Holmes continues to rack up the blocks for UE, who currently has a 7-16 mark and is 3-8 in the MVC.  With 1.05 per set, she ranks fourth in the conference while her 14 solo blocks is the most among any of the top four blockers in the league.  Meanwhile, Ashley Ring has kept the offense rolling.  With 3.93 kills per set, the senior is third in the MVC.  Ring is the top senior in the conference and is one of just two ranked in the top ten.
 
In non-conference action in 2014, the Aces had a large disparity in the number of blocks put forth and allowed.  UE finished with a 2.74-1.80 advantage.  While the Aces are still out-blocking the opposition, that edge has dropped to 2.08-2.00.
 
It has been a tough two weekends for the Purple Aces, who had fallen by a 3-0 score in each of the last four matches.  The main difference has been in the offense.  Opponents have hit .362 over that stretch while UE has been held to .187.
 
In early October, the Aces posted home wins over both Loyola and Bradley and look to duplicate the feat again this weekend. 
 
The Ramblers enter Friday's tilt with a 7-13 mark and 3-8 in the Valley.  UE defeated Loyola by a 3-1 final on Oct. 4 at the Carson Center.  Freshman Caroline Holt has been the top setter in the league in 2014.  Holt leads the Valley with an average of 11.07 assists per set.
 
Saturday's opponent, Bradley, continues to struggle this season.  The Braves are 0-21 and have lost 27 of their last 28 sets.  Taylor Thiele leads BU with 182 kills while Lea Sack paces the Braves with 282 digs.
 
Evansville is back at the Carson Center next weekend, playing host to Drake and UNI.