Match Notes

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville volleyball team is finally at home this weekend, hosting the Dunn Hospitality Tournament on Friday and Saturday at the Carson Center.  Evansville played its first eight matches away from home, going 3-5 in those contests with a team comprised of ten freshmen and sophomores.
 
On Tuesday, Evansville gave the University of Tennessee all it could handle, taking the opening set and playing well for the duration before falling by a 3-1 final.  Genesis Miranda continued to shine, leading all players with 21 kills.  Stephanie Cerino had nine.
 
Following a 3-1 start to the season, the Aces dropped three tilts at the DePaul Invitational, falling to Eastern Illinois, DePaul and Toledo last weekend.  Evansville played well in the final two matches of the event, battling the Blue Demons to the finish, including a 33-31 defeat in a marathon third set.  In the finale against the Rockets, UE won the first two sets, but Toledo rallied back, clinching the match by winning the final three.
 
A 21-kill performance has seen Genesis Miranda rise to the top of the Missouri Valley Conference, averaging 4.64 per set.  Her total of 153 on the season is 42 more than anyone else in the league.  She has tallied 12 or more kills in each of UE's eight matches, including a career-best 28 against Toledo last weekend.  In four of UE's eight tilts so far, she has notched 20 kills or more.  Last weekend, following her top collegiate performance, Miranda was named to the DePaul Invitational All-Tournament Team.
 
Miranda's 5.64 points per set also paces the MVC.  It is 0.54 ahead of second-place Lily Johnson of Missouri State.  She has also been getting the job done with her serving, leading the league with 15 service aces.
 
Quietly having the best season of her career is senior Stephanie Cerino.  Cerino has registered at least 8 kills in every match thus far.  Her average of 2.52 k/s is second on the team behind Miranda.  In the season-opening Holiday Inn Classic, Cerino was named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
Jackson State is off to an 0-8 start to the season, playing a tough schedule that has included Mississippi State, Louisiana and Houston.  Last time out, JSU fell to Southern Miss in their second home match of the season.  Despite their record, the Tigers have a lot of firepower in the form of Taija Thomas.  The reigning SWAC Offensive Player of the Week is tops on the team with 2.56 kills per set and notched 44 kills last weekend.
 
A 3-0 less at Saint Louis on Tuesday saw Western Illinois fall to 0-7 on the season.  The Leathernecks have also played an extremely competitive slate that has included DePaul, Kansas and Duke.  Peyton Crosser is the top offensive player for WIU, checking in at 2.55 kills per set.  She has been responsible for over 25% of her squad's offense.  Setter Abby Skryd leads the way for the Leathernecks with 8.00 assists per set.  She has a total of 176 on the year.
 
The Norse of Northern Kentucky comes to Evansville with a 2-5 mark that includes victories over SIU Edwardsville and Louisiana Tech.  On Tuesday, NKU fell to their in-state rival Eastern Kentucky by a 3-0 final.  Last season, the Norse took a 3-2 win over the Purple Aces in a midweek contest in Highland Heights, Ky.  Haley Libs checks in with a team-leading 3.16 kills per set while hitting a solid .265.  Behind her is Tristen Simpson, who has averaged 2.13 k/s.

Weekend Schedule:
Friday, Sept. 11

Western Illinois vs. Northern Kentucky - 4 p.m.
Evansville vs. Jackson State - 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12
Evansville vs. Western Illinois - 10 a.m.
Jackson State vs. Northern Kentucky - 12:30 p.m.
Jackson State vs. Western Illinois - 3:30 p.m.
Evansville vs. Northern Kentucky - 6 p.m.
 

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