Match Notes

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A trip through Iowa marks the beginning of the Missouri Valley Conference schedule for the University of Evansville volleyball team as the Purple Aces play their first league game on Friday evening.
 
Drake will be the opponent for the opener on Friday evening before Evansville heads to Cedar Falls for a 7 p.m. tilt against UNI.  Both matches will be carried live on ESPN3.
 
UE is trying to change a trend that has seen the team go 4-14 in each of the last four seasons in league play.  In the three seasons before that, the Aces combined to go 21-33, including an 8-10 mark in 2008.  That was the last time Evansville advanced to the conference tournament.  The last win in a conference opener for UE came in 2011 against Bradley.
 
Over the last three years, Evansville has enjoyed success against its first MVC opponents this season - Drake.  The Purple Aces have won three of the last four tilts against the Bulldogs and four of the last six overall.  The squads split last year's matches with the road team coming out on top each time.  In UE's win, Ashley Ring posted 26 kills while Genesis Miranda notched 18. 
 
For the second time this season, Stephanie Cerino was named to an All-Tournament Team as her efforts in the Chippewa Challenge earned her a nod on the team.  In three matches, Cerino tallied 25 kills and hit .174.  She recorded 19 digs and three service aces while being responsible for eight total blocks.
 
Standing at 9-8, Drake is nearing its win total of 11 from last season.  Their win total is tied for the 4th-most in the conference.  Offensively, the Bulldogs are led by Makena Schoene.  With 3.30 kills per set, Shoene ranks 4th in the league.  The also ranks in the top five in the Valley in points with 3.87 per frame.  On defense, Drake has notched 16.22 digs per set, a tally that puts them third in the conference.
 
Despite an overall mark of 6-7, Northern Iowa has played one of the toughest schedules in the country.  Four of their six losses have come to top competition in Kentucky, USC, Baylor and Iowa State.  Just as impressive are wins over Creighton, Cincinnati, Butler and Alabama.  Kayla Haneline is one of the top offensive players in the league, ranking 4th in the league in points per set with 3.97 and 7th in kills at 3.08 per set.  On defense, the Panthers sit atop the conference with 17.38 digs per set.
 

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