Homecoming Weekend: SIUE Athletics Turns the Page to OVC Play

Homecoming Weekend is here at SIUE, and Cougar fans have a full weekend of athletics to look forward to.

Volleyball will get things started with back-to-back matches against UT Martin on Friday and Saturday. Men's soccer will follow Saturday's volleyball match with a matchup against Southern Indiana, while women's soccer will close out the weekend Sunday afternoon against Eastern Illinois.

But this weekend is about more than Homecoming.

For all three programs, it marks the beginning of Ohio Valley Conference play.

Before the Cougars turn their attention to conference competition, each team has a different story coming out of nonconference play.

Volleyball Looks to Bounce Back

SIUE volleyball heads into its OVC opener after a difficult weekend at the Governors Classic in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The Cougars went 0-3 at the tournament, beginning with a 3-0 loss to Southern Illinois. SIUE then fell 3-0 to host Austin Peay before finishing the weekend with a 3-1 loss to Gardner-Webb.

The Gardner-Webb match showed some of the potential within the team despite the final result. SIUE won the opening set 25-21 and led 24-23 in the fourth set before Gardner-Webb rallied to take the set 26-24 and end the match.

Senior middle blocker Vienna Elliott had one of her strongest individual performances of the season in that match. She recorded season highs in kills, blocks, service aces, digs and points, finishing with 10 kills, seven blocks, two aces and 15.5 points. Sophomore setter Ally Hughes also recorded her first double-double of the season with 20 assists and 15 digs.

Now the Cougars get a chance to reset.

UT Martin comes to First Community Arena for two matches, giving SIUE two opportunities to start OVC play on its home court.

Players to Watch

Elliott will be an important player to watch after her performance against Gardner-Webb. Sophie Robinson is another key piece of the Cougar attack after being named one of SIUE's OVC preseason Players to Watch.

Hughes will also be worth watching at setter. Her ability to distribute the ball and contribute defensively could be important as SIUE begins conference play.

Team to Watch

The biggest question for SIUE is how the Cougars respond to the difficult tournament in Tennessee.

The three losses are now behind them. The focus shifts to UT Martin and the start of a new portion of the season.

And with two matches against the same opponent, SIUE will have an opportunity to make adjustments from one day to the next.

Men's Soccer Finds Its Footing

SIUE men's soccer also experienced some frustration during the final stretch of its nonconference schedule.

The Cougars suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss at Loyola Chicago when the Ramblers scored with just over a minute remaining. Arved von Vegesack scored in the 89th minute to give Loyola the victory.

SIUE then returned home to face Bradley and came away with a 1-1 draw.

Bradley opened the scoring in the 58th minute, but SIUE responded when Archie McDonnell scored in the 72nd minute off an assist from Juan Rodas. The Cougars finished with 16 shots compared with Bradley's nine but could not find a second goal.

Then came the response SIUE was looking for.

The Cougars defeated Webster 3-0 in their final tune-up before conference play. Ryley Gibbs opened the scoring in the 18th minute, McDonnell added another in the 27th, and Dominic Bartoni completed the scoring in the 54th minute. SIUE also recorded a season-high 17 shots and its second shutout of the season.

McDonnell has been particularly important during the recent stretch, scoring against both Bradley and Webster. Gibbs and Bartoni also enter conference play after finding the net against Webster.

Players to Watch

McDonnell is an obvious player to watch after scoring in consecutive games. Gibbs and Bartoni also showed what they can provide offensively in the Webster victory.

On the defensive side, SIUE will need another strong performance from its back line and goalkeepers as the Cougars begin conference play.

Team to Watch

For SIUE as a team, the Webster game provided a chance to regain some momentum after the late loss at Loyola and frustrating draw with Bradley.

Now that momentum needs to carry into OVC play.

Southern Indiana will be the first conference opponent, and the Cougars will have the benefit of playing in front of the Homecoming crowd at Korte Stadium Saturday night.

Women's Soccer Looks to Turn the Page

Women's soccer enters OVC play after a particularly difficult finish to its nonconference schedule.

The Cougars suffered a narrow 1-0 loss at Southern Illinois before traveling to Missouri State, where they fell 6-1.

Against Southern Illinois, SIUE was competitive throughout the match. The Salukis scored the only goal in the 55th minute, but the Cougars actually finished with a 13-7 advantage in shots. Claire Nieroda led SIUE with six shots.

The Missouri State game was a much different story.

Missouri State scored twice in the first half and added four more goals in the second half. SIUE's lone goal came from Nieroda, who scored her fourth goal of the season.

Now, the Cougars have to put those two results behind them.

Players to Watch

Nieroda is an obvious player to watch entering conference play. She has been an important part of SIUE's attack and provided the Cougars' only goal against Missouri State.

Tori Bockstadter is another player to watch. She was named to the OVC preseason watch list and gives SIUE another offensive threat.

Senior goalkeeper Sarah Bozeman, who was also named to the preseason watch list, will be important as the Cougars look to tighten things up defensively.

Team to Watch

For the team, Sunday's match against Eastern Illinois is an opportunity for a fresh start.

The nonconference portion of the schedule is over. The Missouri State loss was a difficult ending to that part of the season, but it does not determine what happens once conference play begins.

Eastern Illinois will be the first OVC test, and SIUE will have home-field advantage at Korte Stadium.

Homecoming Meets Conference Play

Three SIUE programs will enter Homecoming Weekend looking to start OVC play on the right foot.

Volleyball will have two opportunities against UT Martin, men's soccer will face Southern Indiana Saturday night, and women's soccer will meet Eastern Illinois Sunday afternoon.

Each team arrives at this weekend from a different place.

Volleyball is looking to rebound from a difficult tournament in Tennessee. Men's soccer is trying to build on its 3-0 win over Webster after a heartbreaking loss and a draw. Women's soccer is looking for a response following consecutive losses to Southern Illinois and Missouri State.

But all three teams have one thing in common:

The nonconference portion of the season is over, and OVC play starts now.

Homecoming provides the setting. The Cougars will have to provide the response.