EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville volleyball program has had a long-lasting tie to Puerto Rico with coaches and student-athletes.  This weekend, the program is set to embark on its first trip to the island as the Purple Aces open the 2019 season at the Puerto Rico Clasico.
 
UE is set to play two games in the tournament, facing Providence on Friday evening before matching up against East Carolina on Saturday.
 
Aside from its competition on the floor, the Aces will make the most out of their time off the court.  The team travels to San Juan on Thursday and will settle in before taking to the court on Friday and Saturday.
 
Capping off the trip on Sunday will be some unique experiences that will see the team get some hard-earned time on the beach before giving back to the local community.  The day begins with a morning of enjoyment on the beach where the team will get to kick back and relax following their first two matches. 
 
After lunch, the girls travel to Guaynabo, Puerto Rico where they will conduct an open volleyball clinic.  It will give the team a chance to meet and work with members of the San Juan community and help them to enhance their volleyball skills while giving them a new take on the game. 
 
In what will be an excellent opportunity for the program to get some worldwide exposure, the Aces will be taking over the NCAA Volleyball Instagram account (@ncaavolleyball) for the day.  The team and staff will document their experience to the whole college volleyball community. 
 
It will be a homecoming for members of the UE team and coaching staff.  Coaches Fernando Morales, Melissa Rabell and Cookie Stevens all have ties to the island while current Aces players Melanie Feliciano, Laura Ruiz, Cecilia Thon and Alondra Vazquez are natives of Puerto Rico.
 

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