EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Off to its best start in 11 years, the Purple Aces volleyball team looks to carry that momentum into Missouri Valley Conference play, opening the league schedule on Friday at Indiana State. Match time is 5 p.m. CT inside ISU Arena.
Last Time Out
- Taking to its home court for the first time in the fall, the University of Evansville picked up 3-0 victories over Cleveland State and Murray State in the Dunn Hospitality Tourney
- Alondra Vazquez was the MVP of the event, averaging 5.60 kills and 3.40 digs per set
- Melanie Feliciano and Madisyn Steele were named to the All-Tournament Team
- Steele had the top effort of her freshman career against the Racers, finishing with 10 kills
Looking at the Start
- Following a 2-0 weekend inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse, the Aces improved to 10-1 on the season
- It is the best start since 2010 when UE won 11 of its first 12 matches
Gaining National Attention
- A season average of 11.36 assists has Taya Haffner among the national leaders
- Haffner leads the MVC while ranking sixth in the nation and the #2 freshman
- She continues to rack up the assists at the unbelievable rate of 11.75/set over the last four matches
- Haffner capped off last weekend with 43 helpers in the 3-0 win over Murray State; it was her top total in a 3-set match
MVC Player of the Week - Take 3
- For the second time this season and the third instance in her career, Alondra Vazquez was named the MVC Player of the Week on Monday
- She registered 4.88 kills and 3.63 digs in a week that saw UE earn three 3-0 wins versus Tennessee St, Cleveland St and Murray St while being named the MVP of the Dunn Hospitality Tournament
1K-1K Club
- Alondra Vazquez recently surpassed 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career
- Her career numbers currently stand at 1,100 kills and 1,050 digs and she is the 8th player in UE history to accomplish the feat; the others to do so include:
Name Kills Digs Years
Lisa Sampson 1437 1126 90-93
Vicki Spahn 1015 1448 91-94
Julie Groves 1523 2055 97-00
Jessica Kiefer 1706 1017 97-01
Samantha Butler 1318 1734 98-01
Brooke Maher 1254 1418 08-11
Mildrelis Rodriguez 1156 1380 15-18
Double Digit Outing
- Freshman Madisyn Steele earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team at the home-opening Dunn Hospitality Tournament
- Steele had the top match of her career against Murray State, registering 10 kills in 12 attempts
- She is Evansville's second-leading blocker with 0.83 per set and had five block assists against PFW and Cleveland State
- Over the last 25 sets, Steele has 19 blocks
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